1. Theoretical Evaluation of Sulfur-Based Reactions as a Model for Biological Antioxidant Defense.
- Author
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De Sciscio ML, D'Annibale V, and D'Abramo M
- Subjects
- Oxidation-Reduction, Sulfur chemistry, Disulfides chemistry, Reactive Oxygen Species metabolism, Antioxidants metabolism, Cysteine metabolism
- Abstract
Sulfur-containing amino acids, Methionine (Met) and Cysteine (Cys), are very susceptible to Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS). Therefore, sulfur-based reactions regulate many biological processes, playing a key role in maintaining cellular redox homeostasis and modulating intracellular signaling cascades. In oxidative conditions, Met acts as a ROS scavenger, through Met sulfoxide formation, while thiol/disulfide interchange reactions take place between Cys residues as a response to many environmental stimuli. In this work, we apply a QM/MM theoretical-computational approach, which combines quantum-mechanical calculations with classical molecular dynamics simulations to estimate the free energy profile for the above-mentioned reactions in solution. The results obtained, in good agreement with experimental data, show the validity of our approach in modeling sulfur-based reactions, enabling us to study these mechanisms in more complex biological systems.
- Published
- 2022
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