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Flavonoids are secondary metabolites ubiquitously found in plants. Their antioxidant properties make them highly interesting natural compounds to be used in pharmacology. Therefore, unravelling the mechanisms of flavonoids biosynthesis is a current hot challenge for the scientific community. Among all the enzymes involved in this biosynthetic pathway, DihydroFlavonol-4-Reductase (DFR) plays a key role on the way to the production of anthocyanins and proanthocyanidins. Here, we provide new information on the mechanism of action of this enzyme by using QM/MM-MD simulations applied to both dihydroquercetin (DHQ) and dihydrokaempferol (DHK) substrates. The consideration of these very similar compounds shed light on the major role played by the enzyme on the stabilization of the transition state but also on the activation of the substrate before the reaction through Near-Attack Conformer effects.

Sugar replacement is still an active issue in the food industry. The use of structure-taste relationships remains one of the most rational strategy to expand the chemical space associated to sweet taste. A new machine learning model has been setup based on an update of the SweetenersDB and on open-source molecular features. It has been implemented on a freely accessible webserver. Cellular functional assays show that the sweet taste receptor is activated in vitro by a new scaffold of natural compounds identified by the in silico protocol. The newly identified sweetener belongs to the lignan chemical family and opens a new chemical space to explore.

Lavender essential oils (EOs) of higher quality are produced by a few Lavandula angustifolia cultivars and mainly used in the perfume industry. Undesirable compounds such as camphor and borneol are also synthesized by lavender leading to a depreciated EO. Here, we report the cloning of bornyl diphosphate synthase of lavender (LaBPPS), an enzyme that catalyzes the production of bornyl diphosphate (BPP) and then by-products such as borneol or camphor, from an EST library. Compared to the BPPS of Salvia officinalis, the functional characterization of LaBPPS showed several differences in amino acid sequence, and the distribution of catalyzed products. Molecular modeling of the enzyme's active site suggests that the carbocation intermediates are more stable in LaBPPS than in SoBPPS leading probably to a lower efficiency of LaBPPS to convert GPP into BPP. Quantitative RT-PCR performed from leaves and flowers at different development stages of L. angustifolia samples show a clear correlation between transcript level of LaBPPS and accumulation of borneol/camphor, suggesting that LaBPPS is mainly responsible of in vivo biosynthesis of borneol/camphor in fine lavender. A phylogenetic analysis of terpene synthases (TPS) pointed out the basal position of LaBPPS in the TPSb clade, suggesting that LaBPPS could be an ancestor of others lavender TPSb. Finally, borneol could be one of the first monoterpenes to be synthesized in the Lavandula subgenus. Knowledge gained from these experiments will facilitate future studies to improve the lavender oils through metabolic engineering or plant breeding. Accession numbers: LaBPPS: KM015221.

All sweet-tasting compounds are detected by a single G-protein coupled receptor (GPCR), the heterodimer T1R2-T1R3, for which no experimental structure is available. The sweet taste receptor is a class C GPCR, and the recently published crystallographic structures of metabotropic glutamate receptor (mGluR) 1 and 5 provide a significant step forward for understanding structure-function relationships within this family. In this article, we recapitulate more than 600 single point site-directed mutations and available structural data to obtain a critical alignment of the sweet taste receptor sequences with respect to other class C GPCRs. Using this alignment, a homology 3D-model of the human sweet taste receptor is built and analyzed to dissect out the role of key residues involved in ligand binding and those responsible for receptor activation. Proteins 2017; 85:332-341. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Positive allosteric modulators (PAMs) of metabotropic glutamate receptor type 5 (mGluR

Mammalian sensory systems detect sweet taste through the activation of a single heteromeric T1R2/T1R3 receptor belonging to class C G-protein-coupled receptors. Allosteric ligands are known to interact within the transmembrane domain, yet a complete view of receptor activation remains elusive. By combining site-directed mutagenesis with computational modeling, we investigate the structure and dynamics of the allosteric binding pocket of the T1R3 sweet-taste receptor in its apo form, and in the presence of an allosteric ligand, cyclamate. A novel positively charged residue at the extracellular loop 2 is shown to interact with the ligand. Molecular dynamics simulations capture significant differences in the behavior of a network of conserved residues with and without cyclamate, although they do not directly interact with the allosteric ligand. Structural models show that they adopt alternate conformations, associated with a conformational change in the transmembrane region. Site-directed mutagenesis confirms that these residues are unequivocally involved in the receptor function and the allosteric signaling mechanism of the sweet-taste receptor. Similar to a large portion of the transmembrane domain, they are highly conserved among mammals, suggesting an activation mechanism that is evolutionarily conserved. This work provides a structural basis for describing the dynamics of the receptor, and for the rational design of new sweet-taste modulators.

Odorant receptors (ORs) are the largest subfamily within class A G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs). No experimental structural data of any OR is available to date and atomic-level insights are likely to be obtained by means of molecular modeling. In this article, we critically align sequences of ORs with those GPCRs for which a structure is available. Here, an alignment consistent with available site-directed mutagenesis data on various ORs is proposed. Using this alignment, the choice of the template is deemed rather minor for identifying residues that constitute the wall of the binding cavity or those involved in G protein recognition.

Determining the protein-protein interactions is still a major challenge for molecular biology. Docking protocols has come of age in predicting the structure of macromolecular complexes. However, they still lack accuracy to estimate the binding affinities, the thermodynamic quantity that drives the formation of a complex. Here, an updated version of the protein-protein ATTRACT force field aiming at predicting experimental binding affinities is reported. It has been designed on a dataset of 218 protein-protein complexes. The correlation between the experimental and predicted affinities reaches 0.6, outperforming most of the available protocols. Focusing on a subset of rigid and flexible complexes, the performance raises to 0.76 and 0.69, respectively. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Based on the most exhaustive database of sweeteners with known sweetness values, a new quantitative structure-activity relationship model for sweetness prediction has been set up. Analysis of the physico-chemical properties of sweeteners in the database indicates that the structure of most potent sweeteners combines a hydrophobic scaffold functionalized by a limited number of hydrogen bond sites (less than 4 hydrogen bond donors and 10 acceptors), with a moderate molecular weight ranging from 350 to 450g·mol-1. Prediction of sweetness, bitterness and toxicity properties of the largest database of natural compounds have been performed. In silico screening reveals that the majority of the predicted natural intense sweeteners comprise saponin or stevioside scaffolds. The model highlights that their sweetness potency is comparable to known natural sweeteners. The identified compounds provide a rational basis to initiate the design and chemosensory analysis of new low-calorie sweeteners.

All sweet-tasting compounds are detected by a single G-protein coupled receptor (GPCR), the heterodimer T1R2-T1R3, for which no experimental structure is available. The sweet taste receptor is a class C GPCR, and the recently published crystallographic structures of metabotropic glutamate receptor (mGluR) 1 and 5 provide a significant step forward for understanding structure-function relationships within this family. In this article, we recapitulate more than 600 single point site-directed mutations and available structural data to obtain a critical alignment of the sweet taste receptor sequences with respect to other class C GPCRs. Using this alignment, a homology 3D-model of the human sweet taste receptor is built and analyzed to dissect out the role of key residues involved in ligand binding and those responsible for receptor activation. Proteins 2017; 85:332-341. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

In the course of metabolite formation, some multienzymatic edifices, the so-called metabolon, are formed and lead to a more efficient production of these natural compounds. One of the major features of these enzyme complexes is the facilitation of direct transfer of the metabolite between enzyme active sites by substrate channelling. Biophysical insights into substrate channelling remain scarce because the transient nature of these macromolecular complexes prevents the observation of high resolution structures. Here, using molecular modelling, we describe the substrate channelling of a flavonoid compound between DFR (dihydroflavonol-4-reductase) and LAR (leucoanthocyanidin reductase). The simulation presents crucial details concerning the kinetic, thermodynamic, and structural aspects of this diffusion. The formation of the DFR–LAR complex leads to the opening of the DFR active site giving rise to a facilitated diffusion, in about 1 μs, of the DFR product towards LAR cavity. The theoretically observed substrate channelling is supported experimentally by the fact that this metabolite, i.e. the product of the DFR enzyme, is not stable in the media. Moreover, along this path, the influence of the solvent is crucial. The metabolite remains close to the surface of the complex avoiding full solvation. In addition, when the dynamic behaviour of the system leads to a loss of interaction between the metabolite and the enzymes, water molecules through bridging H-bonds prevent the former from escaping to the bulk.

We have investigated O2 and H2 transport across a NiFe hydrogenase at the atomic scale by means of computational methods. The Wild Type protein has been compared with the V74Q mutant. Two distinct methodologies have been applied to study the gas access to the active site. Temperature locally enhanced sampling simulations have emphasized the importance of protein dynamics on gas diffusion. The O2 diffusion free energy profiles, obtained by umbrella sampling, are in agreement with the known kinetic data and show that in the V74Q mutant, the inhibition process is lowered from both a kinetic and a thermodynamic point of view. Proteins 2011. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Astringency is a perception that intuitively relates to thesense of taste. Its function is nonetheless far removed fromthe typical chemoreception senses, such as olfaction ortaste. It notably originates from the binding of chemicalsbelonging to the family of tannins by basic salivary ProlineRich Proteins (PRPs).

Amino acids are involved in many scientific theories elucidating possible origins of life on Earth. One of the challenges when discussing the evolutionary origin of biopolymers such as proteins and oligonucleotides in living organisms is the phenomenon that these polymers implement monomers of exclusively one handedness, a feature called biomolecular homochirality. Many attempts have been made to understand this process of racemic symmetry breaking. Assuming an extraterrestrial origin of the molecular building blocks of living organisms, their susceptibility to asymmetric photolysis by the absorption of circularly polarized electromagnetic radiation in interstellar space was proposed. In order to predict whether the interaction of circularly polarized light with various racemic amino acids can induce an enantiomeric excess, we investigated the electronic and chiroptical properties of the amino acids valine and isovaline by a molecular modelling approach based on quantum chemistry (Density Functional Theory). The average spectra of both L-valine and L-isovaline have been produced on the basis of Boltzmann population analysis using computed spectra for the various conformations of each amino acid.

Structural and electronic characteristics of four flavonoids, namely quercetin, luteolin, catechin and taxifolin, have been revisited by means of B3LYP density functional. Rotation energy of the catechol moieties together with HOMO–LUMO, dipole moments analyses are reported for each flavonoid. Deprotonation and hydrogen abstraction energies of the O3H and O4′H hydroxyl groups are compared and analyzed with the help of an electronic description for each structure. Our results put forward the significant role of π-delocalization upon stabilization but have also shown that inductive effects play a major role in the stabilization of deprotonated forms. Inspection of the charge transfer together with analysis of a simple model of catechol has also demonstrated the relative independence of each structural motif when hydrogen abstraction processes are considered.

The cerium(IV)-mediated oxidation of 3-hydroxy-4'-methylflavone (1) proceeds by H-atom abstraction forming the flavonoxy radical (7), and the subsequent combination of its resonance forms leads to the 3-hydroxy-4'-methylflavone dehydro dimer (9). The above system serves as direct evidence for the intermediacy of the flavonoxy radical, its spin delocalization, and also indirect evidence for valence tautomerism as a key step on the substrate activation both in the quercetinase and its biomimic model system.

Odorant receptors (ORs) are the largest subfamily within class A G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs). No experimental structural data of any OR is available to date and atomic-level insights are likely to be obtained by means of molecular modeling. In this article, we critically align sequences of ORs with those GPCRs for which a structure is available. Here, an alignment consistent with available site-directed mutagenesis data on various ORs is proposed. Using this alignment, the choice of the template is deemed rather minor for identifying residues that constitute the wall of the binding cavity or those involved in G protein recognition.

The dynamic behaviour analysis of porcine OBP, free of ligand, and complexed with 2-isobutyl-3-methoxypyrazine and 2,6-dimethyl-7-octen-2-ol has been performed by means of molecular dynamics simulations. The simulations reveal that the OBP cavity, while being hydrophobic, is likely to produce hydrophilic interactions with some of the internal residues. A large evolution of the OBP cavity volume has been observed, ranging between 400 and 800 A3 independently of the ligand buried into the cavity. The hydrophobic cavity is shielded from the solvent, but openings have been observed, triggered by shifts of residues considered to constitute the door of the cavity, especially tyrosine 82.

Nanosecond molecular dynamics using the Ewald summation method have been performed to elucidate the structural and energetic role of the closing base pair in loop-loop RNA duplexes neutralized by Mg2+ counterions in aqueous phases. Mismatches GA, CU and Watson-Crick GC base pairs have been considered for closing the loop of an RNA in complementary interaction with HIV-1 TAR. The simulations reveal that the mismatch GA base, mediated by a water molecule, leads to a complex that presents the best compromise between flexibility and energetic contributions. The mismatch CU base pair, in spite of the presence of an inserted water molecule, is too short to achieve a tight interaction at the closing-loop junction and seems to force TAR to reorganize upon binding. An energetic analysis has allowed us to quantify the strength of the interactions of the closing and the loop-loop pairs throughout the simulations. Although the water-mediated GA closing base pair presents an interaction energy similar to that found on fully geometry-optimized structure, the water-mediated CU closing base pair energy interaction reaches less than half the optimal value.

The dynamic behavior of the HCV IRES IIId domain is analyzed by means of a 2.6-ns molecular dynamics simulation, starting from an NMR structure. The simulation is carried out in explicit water with Na+ counterions, and particle-mesh Ewald summation is used for the electrostatic interactions. In this work, we analyze selected patterns of the helix that are crucial for IRES activity and that could be considered as targets for the intervention of inhibitors, such as the hexanucleotide terminal loop (more particularly its three consecutive guanines) and the loop-E motif. The simulation has allowed us to analyze the dynamics of the loop substructure and has revealed a behavior among the guanine bases that might explain the different role of the third guanine of the GGG triplet upon molecular recognition. The accessibility of the loop-E motif and the loop major and minor groove is also examined, as well as the effect of Na+ or Mg2+ counterion within the simulation. The electrostatic analysis reveals several ion pockets, not discussed in the experimental structure. The positions of these ions are useful for locating specific electrostatic recognition sites for potential inhibitor binding. Figure Superposition of 14 structures representative of the evolution of IRES IIId RNA along 2.6-ns MD simulation

The intramolecular transfer of the allyl group of functionalized allyl aryl ethers to an aldehyde group in the presence of Ni 0 complexes was studied from chemical, electrochemical and theoretical points of view. The chemical reaction involves the addition of Ni 0 to the allyl ether followed by stoichiometric allylation. The electrochemical process is catalytic in nickel and involves the reduction of intermediate η 3 -allylnickel(II) complexes.

International audience; Despite tremendous successes of GPCR crystallography, the receptors with available structures represent only a small fraction of human GPCRs. An important role of the modeling community is to maximize structural insights for the remaining receptors and complexes. The community-wide GPCR Dock assessment was established to stimulate and monitor the progress in molecular modeling and ligand docking for GPCRs. The four targets in the present third assessment round presented new and diverse challenges for modelers, including prediction of allosteric ligand interaction and activation states in 5-hydroxytryptamine receptors 1B and 2B, and modeling by extremely distant homology for smoothened receptor. Forty-four modeling groups participated in the assessment. State-of-the-art modeling approaches achieved close-to-experimental accuracy for small rigid orthosteric ligands and models built by close homology, and they correctly predicted protein fold for distant homology targets. Predictions of long loops and GPCR activation states remain unsolved problems.

A joint approach combining free-energy calculations and calcium-imaging assays on the broadly tuned human 1G1 olfactory receptor is reported. The free energy of binding of ten odorants was computed by means of molecular-dynamics simulations. This state function allows separating the experimentally determined eight agonists from the two non-agonists. This study constitutes a proof-of-principle for the computational deorphanization of olfactory receptors.

Hydrogenases are promising candidates for the catalytic production of green energy by means of biological ways. The major impediment to such a production is rooted in their inhibition under aerobic conditions. In this work, we model dioxygen migration rates in mutants of a hydrogenase of Desulfovibrio fructusovorans. The approach relies on the calculation of the whole potential of mean force for O2 migration within the wild-type as well as in V74M, V74F, and V74Q mutant channels. The three free-energy barriers along the entire migration pathway are converted into chemical rates through modeling based on Transition State Theory. The use of such a model recovers the trend of O2 migration rates among the series.

Hydrogenases are promising candidates for the catalytic production of green energy by means of biological ways. The major impediment to such a production is rooted in their inhibition under aerobic conditions. In this work, we model dioxygen migration rates in mutants of a hydrogenase of Desulfovibrio fructusovorans. The approach relies on the calculation of the whole potential of mean force for O2 migration within the wild-type as well as in V74M, V74F, and V74Q mutant channels. The three free-energy barriers along the entire migration pathway are converted into chemical rates through modeling based on Transition State Theory. The use of such a model recovers the trend of O2 migration rates among the series.

Odorant binding proteins (OBPs) and olfactory receptors (ORs) belong to the main molecular protagonists of the perception of smell. With the use of state-of-the-art molecular modeling tools, deciphering the nature of both OBP/odorants and OR/odorant interactions is at hand. With the use of molecular dynamics simulations, we provide some clues to identify the residues responsible for the affinity of OBPs and ORs for various odorants. The affinity prediction is compared with biophysical experiments when available.

The hydrolysis by thermolysin of a Gly-Phe-Leu peptide, considered as a model substrate of the enkephalin family, has been studied with a mixed QM/MM method with the AM1/AMBER parameterization. This study is based on the mechanism proposed by Matthews in which the Glu-143 residue plays the role of a proton shuttle in the course of the reaction. The study focused on the description of every step of the process, reaction intermediates and transition states, and on the influence, both energetical and structural, of the whole protein on these stationary points. The overall mechanism appears to be quite realistic, but the study shows that some reaction steps that were assumed to be concerted should occur in two phases. Analysis of the role of the amino-acids surrounding the active site has shown their important participation in the fluctuations of the energy. In particular, the major role of His-231 on the overall mechanism has been confirmed. This study shows that modeling reaction mechanisms for enzymes is quite feasible and opens the way for computer experiments that may be helpful in devising and interpreting detailed experimental investigations.

The thermochemistry of the oxygen transfer from Cp*ReO3 to PPh3, recently studied experimentally, has been investigated by density functional (DF) calculations. Both gradient corrected (BP86) and hybrid (B3LYP) DF methods were employed. The goal of the study was twofold. First, we evaluate the accuracy of the computational methodology for describing a transition metal oxygen multiple bond, and we check some assumptions that were made to establish the experimental thermochemistry of this complex transfer reaction. In this way we validate a computational strategy which we apply in the second part to calculate the Re−O bond dissociation energies in the complexes LReO3, L = CH3, C6H5, Cl, F, OH, and NH2. A high level of calculation on appropriate models, including enthalpy corrections and solvent effects, is required to compute enthalpy values of all reaction steps in good agreement with experiment. The B3LYP approach with flexible basis sets leads to Re−O bond energies of analogous complexes LReO3 (L = Cp, C...

A three-dimensional model of the 507-749 region of neutral endopeptidase-24.11 (NEP; E.C.3.4.24.11) was constructed integrating the results of secondary structure predictions and sequence homologies with the bacterial endopeptidase thermolysin. Additional data were extracted from the structure of two other metalloproteases, astacin and stromelysin. The resulting model accounts for the main biological properties of NEP and has been used to describe the environment close to the zinc atom defining the catalytic site. The analysis of several thiol inhibitors, complexed in the model active site, revealed the presence of a large hydrophobic pocket at the S1' subsite level. This is supported by the nature of the constitutive amino acids. The computed energies of bound inhibitors correspond with the relative affinities of the stereoisomers of benzofused macrocycle derivatives of thiorphan. The model could be used to facilitate the design of new NEP inhibitors, as illustrated in the paper.

Der Angriff des Olefins auf eine Peroxogruppe unter Bildung eines Spiroubergangszustands ist theoretischen Untersuchungen zufolge bei der Epoxidierung von Olefinen mit dem Katalysatorsystem CH3ReO3/H2O2 bevorzugt (siehe Bild). Dieser Befund wird durch Dichtefunktionalrechnungen an mehr als zehn Ubergangszustanden der wahrscheinlichsten Mechanismen gestutzt. Die Hydratisierung hat einen bedeutenden Einflus auf mehrere an der Reaktion beteiligte Spezies: Sie stabilisiert Intermediate und destabilisiert, von einer Ausnahme abgesehen, die Ubergangszustande.

The hydrolysis by thermolysin of formamide, considered as a model of a peptide bond, has been studied with semiempirical and mixed QM/MM methods. The study has been carried out for two catalystsa m...

52 ref. 2 tables 4 graph.; International audience; Neprilysin (neutral endopeptidase-24.11, EC 3.4.24.11) is a mammalian zinc-endopeptidase involved in the degradation of biologically active peptides. Although no atomic structure is available for this enzyme, site-directed mutagenesis studies have shown that its active site resembles closely that of the bacterial zinc-endopeptidase, thermolysin (EC 3.4.24.27). One active site residue of thermolysin, Arg-203, is involved in inhibitor binding by forming hydrogen bonds with the carbonyl group of a residue in the P1 position and also participates in a hydrogen bond network involving Asp-170. Sequence alignment data shows that Arg-717 of neprilysin could play a similar role to Arg-203 of thermolysin. This was investigated by site-directed mutagenesis with Arg-203 of thermolysin and Arg-717 of neprilysin being replaced by methionine residues. This led, in both cases, to decreases in kcat/Km values, of 122-fold for neprilysin and 2300-fold for thermolysin, essentially due to changes in kcat. The Ki values of several inhibitors were also increased for the mutated enzymes. In addition, the replacement of Asp-170 of thermolysin by Ala residue resulted in a decrease in kcat/Km of 220-fold. The results, coupled with a molecular modeling study, suggest that Arg-717 of neprilysin corresponds to Arg-203 of thermolysin and that in both enzymes a hydrogen bond network exists, involving His-142, Asp-170, and Arg-203 in thermolysin and His-583, Asp-650, and Arg-717 in neprilysin, which is crucial for hydrolytic activity.

The hydrolysis of amides is a model reaction to study peptide hydrolysis. This process has been previously considered in the literature at the ab initio level. In this work, we revisit different reaction mechanisms (water-assisted, non-assisted, neutral and acid-catalyzed) with various theoretical methods : semiempirical, ab initio and Density Functional. The ab initio calculations are carried out at a computational level which is substantially higher than in previous studies. We describe the structure of the transition states and discuss the influence of the catalyst. We also compute the activation free energies for these processes at the Density Functional Theory level. Comparison of the methods allows to outline the main trends of these theoretical approaches which may be useful to design new computational strategies for investigating biological reaction mechanisms through the use of combined Quantum Mechanics/Molecular Mechanics methods.

We have investigated O₂ and H₂ transport across a NiFe hydrogenase at the atomic scale by means of computational methods. The Wild Type protein has been compared with the V74Q mutant. Two distinct methodologies have been applied to study the gas access to the active site. Temperature locally enhanced sampling simulations have emphasized the importance of protein dynamics on gas diffusion. The O₂ diffusion free energy profiles, obtained by umbrella sampling, are in agreement with the known kinetic data and show that in the V74Q mutant, the inhibition process is lowered from both a kinetic and a thermodynamic point of view.

International audience

Quercetinase enzymatic activity consists in the addition of dioxygen onto flavonoids, some natural polyphenol compounds, leading to the production of both molecular carbon monoxide and to the structurally related depside compound. Experimental studies have reported degradation rates of various flavonoids by such enzymes that can not be directly correlated neither to the number nor to the place of the hydroxyl groups. In order to decipher the role of these functions, we have theoretically characterised the stationary points of various flavonoids oxygenolysis mechanisms by density functional quantum methods. Thus in the present study are reported the main energetic, structural and electronic features that drive this degradation. Together with previous analysis from MD simulations taking into account the dynamic behaviour of the substrate embedded in the enzyme cavity, the present results show that the role of the enzyme, in terms of structural and electronic effects, can not be neglected. Thus, we propose here that deformations of the substrate induced by the enzyme could originate the differences in the degradation rates experimentally observed.

Inhibition of lipoxygenases (LOXs) by flavonoid compounds is now well documented, but the description of the associated mechanism remains controversial due to a lack of information at the molecular level. For instance, X-ray determination of quercetin/LOX-3 system has led to a structure where the enzyme was cocrystallized with a degradation product of the substrate, which rendered the interpretation of the reported interactions between this flavonoid compound and the enzyme difficult. Molecular modeling simulations can in principle allow obtaining precious insights that could fill this lack of structural information. Thus, in this study, we have investigated various binding modes of quercetin to LOX-3 enzyme in order to understand the first step of the inhibition process, that is the association of the two entities. Molecular dynamics simulations and free energy calculations suggest that quercetin binds the metal center via its 3-hydroxychromone function. Moreover, enzyme/substrate interactions within the cavity impose steric hindrances to quercetin that may activate a direct dioxygen addition on the substrate.

International audience; In this article we report calculations dedicated to estimate the selectivity of the Bombyx mori pheromone binding protein towards the two closely related pheromonal components Bombykol and Bombykal. The selectivity is quantified by the binding free-energy difference, obtained either by the thermodynamic integration or by the MM-GBSA approach. In the latter, the selectivity is decomposed on a per-residue basis, which identifies the residues considered crucial for the selectivity of the protein for Bombykol over Bombykal. A discussion on the role of Bombyx mori pheromone binding protein is provided on the basis of these results.

Molecular dynamics simulations, using the AMBER force field, were performed to study Quercetin 2,3-Dioxygenase enzyme (Quercetinase or 2,3QD). We have analyzed the structural modifications of the active site and of the linker region between the native enzyme and the enzyme-substrate complex. New structural informations, such as an allosteric effect in the presence of the substrate, as well as description of the enzyme-substrate interactions and values of binding free energies were brought out. All these results confirm the idea that the linker encloses the substrate in the active site and also enlighten the recognition role of the substrate B-ring by the enzyme. Moreover, a specific interaction scheme has been proposed to explain the relative degradation rate of various flavonoid compounds under the oxygenolysis reaction catalyzed by the Quercetin 2,3-Dioxygenase enzyme.

Odorant binding proteins (OBP's) are small hydrophilic proteins, belonging to the lipocalin family dedicated to bind and transport small hydrophobic ligands. Despite many works, the mechanism of ligand binding, together with the functional role of these proteins remains a topic of debate and little is known at the atomic level. The present work reports a computational study of odorants capture and release by an OBP, using both constrained and unconstrained simulations, giving a glimpse on the molecular mechanism of chemoreception. The residues at the origin of the regulation of the protein door opening are identified and a tyrosine amino-acid together with other nearby residues appear to play a crucial role in allowing this event to occur. The simulations reveal that this tyrosine and the protein's L5 loop are implicated in the ligand contact with the protein and act as an anchoring point for the ligand. The protein structural features required for the ligand entry are highly conserved among many transport proteins, suggesting that this mechanism could somewhat be extended to some members of the larger family of lipocalin.

Quercetin, one of the most representative flavonoid compounds, is involved in antiradical, antioxidant, and prooxidant biological processes. Despite a constant increase of knowledge on both positive and negative activities of quercetin, it is unclear which activated form (quinone, semiquinone, or deprotonated) actually plays a role in each of these processes. Structural, electronic, and energetic characteristics of quercetin, as well as the influence of a copper ion on all of these parameters, are studied by means of quantum chemical electronic structure calculations. Introduction of thermodynamic cycles together with the role of coreactive compounds, such as reactive oxygen species, gives a glimpse of the most probable reaction schemes. Such a theoretical approach provides another hint to clarify which reaction is likely to occur within the broad range of quercetin biological activities.