The rupture mechanism of rubredoxin is more complex than previously thought

The surprisingly low rupture force and remarkable mechanical anisotropy of rubredoxin have been known for several years. Exploiting the first combination of steered molecular dynamics and the quantum chemical Judgement of Energy DIstribution (JEDI) analysis, the common belief that hydrogen bonds bet...

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Main Authors: Scheurer, Maximilian (Author) , Dreuw, Andreas (Author) , Head-Gordon, Martin (Author) , Neudecker, Tim (Author)
Format: Article (Journal)
Language:English
Published: 21 June 2020
In: Chemical science
Year: 2020, Volume: 11, Issue: 23, Pages: 6036-6044
ISSN:2041-6539
DOI:10.1039/D0SC02164D
Online Access:Verlag, lizenzpflichtig, Volltext: https://doi.org/10.1039/D0SC02164D
Verlag, lizenzpflichtig, Volltext: https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlelanding/2020/sc/d0sc02164d
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Author Notes:Maximilian Scheurer, Andreas Dreuw, Martin Head-Gordon and Tim Stauch
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Summary:The surprisingly low rupture force and remarkable mechanical anisotropy of rubredoxin have been known for several years. Exploiting the first combination of steered molecular dynamics and the quantum chemical Judgement of Energy DIstribution (JEDI) analysis, the common belief that hydrogen bonds between neighboring amino acid backbones and the sulfur atoms of the central FeS4 unit in rubredoxin determine the low mechanical resistance of the protein is invalidated. The distribution of strain energy in the central part of rubredoxin is elucidated in real-time with unprecedented detail, giving important insights into the mechanical unfolding pathway of rubredoxin. While structural anisotropy as well as the contribution of angle bendings in the FeS4 unit have a significant influence on the mechanical properties of rubredoxin, these factors are insufficient to explain the experimentally observed low rupture force. Instead, the rupture mechanism of rubredoxin is far more complex than previously thought and requires more than just a hydrogen bond network.
Item Description:Gesehen am 11.08.2020
Physical Description:Online Resource
ISSN:2041-6539
DOI:10.1039/D0SC02164D