Substrate Recognition by γ-Glutamyltransferase: A Molecular Dynamics Simulations Study

γ-glutamyltransferase (GGT) is an enzyme that uses γ-glutamyl compounds as substrate and catalyzes their transfer into a water molecule or an acceptor substrate with varied physiological-function in bacteria, plants and animals. Crystal structures of GGT are known for different species and in different states of the chemical reaction; however, structural dynamics of the substrate binding to the catalytic site of GGT is unknown. Here, we modeled Escherichia Coli GGT’s glutamine binding by using a swarm of accelerated molecular dynamics (aMD) simulations. Characterization of multiple binding events identified polar residues in the binding pocket that govern glutamine binding into the active site. Simulated open and closed conformations of a lid-loop protecting the binding cavity suggests its role as a gating element by allowing or blocking substrates entry into the binding pocket. Our results suggest that both specific electrostatic interactions and GGT conformational dynamics dictate the molecular recognition of substrate-GGT complexes. Targeting the lid-loop flexibility offers a strategy for controlling GGT catalytic features.