Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations of a subtilisin-like serine protease VPR from the psychrophilic marine bacterium Vibrio sp. PA-44 and its mesophilic homologue, proteinase K (PRK), have been performed for 20ns at four different temperatures (300, 373, 473, and 573K). The comparative analyses of MD trajectories reveal that at almost all temperatures, VPR exhibits greater structural fluctuations/deviations, more unstable regular secondary structural elements, and higher global flexibility than PRK. Although these two proteases follow similar unfolding pathways at high temperatures, VPR initiates unfolding at a lower temperature and unfolds faster at the same high temperatures than PRK. These observations collectively indicate that VPR is less stable and more heat-labile than PRK. Analyses of the structural/geometrical properties reveal that, when compared to PRK, VPR has larger radius of gyration (Rg), less intramolecular contacts and hydrogen bonds (HBs), more protein-solvent HBs, and smaller burial of nonpolar area and larger exposure of polar area. These suggest that the increased flexibility of VPR would be most likely caused by its reduced intramolecular interactions and more favourable protein-solvent interactions arising from the larger exposure of the polar area, whereas the enhanced stability of PRK could be ascribed to its increased intramolecular interactions arising from the better optimized hydrophobicity. The factors responsible for the significant differences in local flexibility between these two proteases were also analyzed and ascertained. This study provides insights into molecular basis of thermostability of homologous serine proteases adapted to different temperatures.
[1]Yunnan Univ, Lab Conservat & Utilizat Bioresources, Kunming 650091, Peoples R China.
[2]Kunming Med Univ, Dept Cardiol, Mol Cardiol Lab, Affiliated Hosp 1, Kunming 650032, Peoples R China.
[3]Yunnan Agr Univ, Dept Appl Math, Kunming 650201, Peoples R China.
[4]Yunnan Univ, Sch Life Sci, Key Lab Tumor Mol Biol High Educ Yunnan Prov, Kunming 650223, Peoples R China.
[5]Univ Texas Hlth Sci Ctr Houston, Sch Publ Hlth, Human Genet Ctr, Houston, TX 77030 USA.
[6]Univ Texas Hlth Sci Ctr Houston, Sch Publ Hlth, Div Biostat, Houston, TX 77030 USA.
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