Structural insight into the mechanism of amyloid precursor protein recognition by beta-secretase 1: A molecular dynamics study

作者：Chakraborty Sandipan^*; Basu Soumalee

来源：Biophysical Chemistry, 2015, 202: 1-12.

DOI：10.1016/j.bpc.2015.03.006

• BACE1
• APP
• Molecular dynamics simulation
• Essential dynamics
• Conformational switching
• Electrostatic surface complementarity

beta-secretase 1 (BACE1) initiates the proteolysis of amyloid precursor protein (APP) to generate AS, aggregation of which has been considered to be the main histopathological feature of Alzheimer's Disease. Here, we have explored the conformational switching of BACE1 during APP recognition using molecular dynamics simulation thereby suggesting the recognition to be a conformational selection process. Free BACE1 is highly flexible and exists as an ensemble of conformations. The beta-hairpin flap that covers the active site of BACE1 visits numerous conformations during the simulation. Essential dynamics reveal that concerted movements in several loops including the flap region lead to a conformational switching from open to closed form. During the simulation, free BACE1 visits both the open and dosed forms multiple times. Binding of APP to the BACE1 cavity shifts the equilibrium towards a stable complex stabilized by strong electrostatic surface complementarity along with several van der Waals and hydrogen bonding interactions.

• 出版日期2015-7