Catching CRISPR-Cas9 in Action
Journal of Chemical Theory and Computation,
Journal Year:
2025,
Volume and Issue:
unknown
Published: May 5, 2025
CRISPR-Cas9
has
revolutionized
genome
editing,
yet
its
structural
dynamics
and
functional
properties
remain
incompletely
understood,
partly
due
to
limited
atomic-level
characterization
of
active
conformation
with
a
full
R-loop.
Capitalizing
on
recent
advances
in
Cas9
determination,
we
constructed
catalytic-state
model
bound
bona
fide
R-loop
performed
an
integrated
computational
investigation.
Our
molecular
simulations
reveal
substantial
conformational
heterogeneity
the
PAM
(protospacer-adjacent
motif)-distal
nontarget
DNA
strand
adjacent
regions,
leading
dynamically
fluctuating
interactions,
thereby
challenging
experimental
resolution
complex.
Comparative
analysis
highlights
barrier
restricting
final
activation
HNH
nuclease
domain,
suggesting
that
strategic
modulation
interactions
two
sides
could
enhance
cleavage
efficiency.
Furthermore,
quantum
mechanics/molecular
mechanics
indicate
H983
protonated
at
Nε,
RuvC
domain
favors
phosphate-mediated
over
histidine-mediated
pathway
for
cleavage.
Additionally,
identify
alternative
HNH-mediated
target
pathway,
involving
water
nucleophile
aligned
5'
side
scissile
phosphate.
Inspired
by
basic
residue
ladder
observed
RuvC,
propose
extending
similar
strengthen
binding
catalytic
activity.
study
provides
critical
insights
into
structure,
dynamics,
catalysis,
laying
foundation
rational
design
next-generation
systems
optimized
specificity-efficiency
balance.
Language: Английский
Mechanism of Nucleic Acid Phosphodiester Bond Cleavage by Human Endonuclease V: MD and QM/MM Calculations Reveal a Versatile Metal Dependence
The Journal of Physical Chemistry B,
Journal Year:
2024,
Volume and Issue:
128(39), P. 9455 - 9469
Published: Sept. 23, 2024
Human
endonuclease
V
(EndoV)
catalytically
removes
deaminated
nucleobases
by
cleaving
the
phosphodiester
bond
as
part
of
RNA
metabolism.
Despite
being
implicated
in
several
diseases
(cancers,
cardiovascular
diseases,
and
neurological
disorders)
potentially
a
useful
tool
biotechnology,
details
human
EndoV
catalytic
pathway
remain
unclear
due
to
limited
experimental
information
beyond
crystal
structure
apoenzyme
select
mutational
data.
Since
mechanistic
understanding
is
critical
for
further
deciphering
central
roles
expanding
applications
medicine
molecular
dynamics
(MD)
simulations
quantum
mechanics/molecular
mechanics
(QM/MM)
calculations
were
used
unveil
atomistic
pathway.
Due
controversies
surrounding
number
metals
required
nuclease
activity,
enzyme-substrate
models
with
different
numbers
active
site
various
metal-substrate
binding
configurations
built
based
on
structural
data
other
nucleases.
Subsequent
MD
revealed
stability
EndoV-substrate
complex
range
metal
architectures.
Four
unique
pathways
then
characterized
using
QM/MM
that
vary
(one
versus
two)
modes
substrate
coordination
[direct
indirect
(water-mediated)],
mechanisms
fully
consistent
structural,
kinetic,
related
nucleases,
including
members
family.
Beyond
uncovering
key
amino
acids
(D240
K155),
our
highlight
while
one
essential
enzyme
can
benefit
from
two
presence
suitable
sites.
By
directly
comparing
one-
two-metal-mediated
P-O
cleavage
reactions
within
confines
same
site,
work
brings
fresh
perspective
"number
metals"
controversy.
Language: Английский
The phosphodiester dissociative hydrolysis of a DNA model promoted by metal dications
Journal of Molecular Modeling,
Journal Year:
2024,
Volume and Issue:
30(11)
Published: Oct. 23, 2024
Language: Английский
How Can One Metal Power Nucleic Acid Phosphodiester Bond Cleavage by a Nuclease? Multiscale Computational Studies Highlight a Diverse Mechanistic Landscape
The Journal of Physical Chemistry B,
Journal Year:
2024,
Volume and Issue:
unknown
Published: Dec. 25, 2024
Despite
the
remarkable
resistance
of
nucleic
acid
phosphodiester
backbone
to
degradation
affording
genetic
stability,
P–O
bond
must
be
broken
during
DNA
repair
and
RNA
metabolism,
among
many
other
critical
cellular
processes.
Nucleases
are
powerful
enzymes
that
can
enhance
uncatalyzed
rate
cleavage
by
up
∼1017-fold.
most
well
accepted
hydrolysis
mechanism
involving
two
metals
(MA2+
activate
a
water
nucleophile
MB2+
stabilize
leaving
group),
experimental
evidence
suggests
some
nucleases
use
single
metal
facilitate
chemical
step,
controversial
concept
in
literature.
The
present
perspective
uses
case
studies
four
(I-PpoI,
APE1,
bacterial
human
EndoV)
highlight
how
computational
approaches
ranging
from
quantum
mechanical
(QM)
cluster
models
molecular
dynamics
(MD)
simulations
combined
mechanics-molecular
mechanics
(QM/MM)
calculations
reveal
atomic
level
details
necessary
understand
nuclease
this
difficult
chemistry.
representative
showcase
different
amino
residues
(e.g.,
histidine,
aspartate)
fulfill
role
first
(MA2+)
two-metal-mediated
mechanisms.
Nevertheless,
differences
active
site
architectures
afford
diversity
single-metal-mediated
terms
metal–substrate
coordination,
metal,
identities
general
base.
greater
understanding
catalytic
mechanisms
obtained
body
work
reviewed
used
further
explore
progression
diseases
associated
with
(mis)activity
development
novel
applications
such
as
disease
diagnostics,
gene
engineering,
therapeutics.
Language: Английский
A physico-chemical rationale for the varied catalytic efficiency in RNase J paralogues
Journal of Biological Chemistry,
Journal Year:
2024,
Volume and Issue:
unknown, P. 108152 - 108152
Published: Dec. 1, 2024
Paralogues
of
the
bifunctional
nuclease,
Ribonuclease
J
(RNase
J)
demonstrate
varied
catalytic
efficiencies
despite
extensive
sequence
and
structural
similarity.
Of
two
S.
aureus
RNase
paralogues,
J1
is
substantially
more
active
than
J2.
Mutational
analysis
site
residues
revealed
that
only
H80
E166
were
critical
for
nuclease
activity.
Electronic
properties
further
evaluated
using
density
functional
theory
in
conjunction
with
molecular
mechanics.
This
suggested
multiple
at
can
function
as
Lewis
base
or
acid
The
bond
dissociation
energy,
on
other
hand,
Mn
ion
J2,
located
a
structurally
identical
location
to
J1,
crucial
overall
integrity.
Structures
mutant
enzymes
lacking
metal
seen
adopt
different
orientation
between
substrate
binding
domain
wild-type
A
surprising
finding
was
J2
H78A
five-fold
wildtype
enzyme.
Structural
biochemical
experiments
performed
light
this
observation
mechanism
distinct
from
both
two-metal
one-metal
reaction
mechanisms
proposed
nucleases.
Different
activity
levels
paralogues
thus
be
ascribed
diversity
mechanisms.
Language: Английский