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Validation of macromolecular flexibility in solution by small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS)

Journal Article · · European Biophysics Journal
 [1]
  1. Lawrence Berkeley National Lab. (LBNL), Berkeley, CA (United States). Physical Biosciences Division; OSTI
The dynamics of macromolecular conformations are critical to the action of cellular networks. Solution X-ray scattering studies, in combination with macromolecular X-ray crystallography (MX) and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), strive to determine complete and accurate states of macromolecules, providing novel insights describing allosteric mechanisms, supramolecular complexes, and dynamic molecular machines. This review addresses theoretical and practical concepts, concerns, and considerations for using these techniques in conjunction with computational methods to productively combine solution-scattering data with high-resolution structures. I discuss the principal means of direct identification of macromolecular flexibility from SAXS data followed by critical concerns about the methods used to calculate theoretical SAXS profiles from high-resolution structures. The SAXS profile is a direct interrogation of the thermodynamic ensemble and techniques such as, for example, minimal ensemble search (MES), enhance interpretation of SAXS experiments by describing the SAXS profiles as population-weighted thermodynamic ensembles. I discuss recent developments in computational techniques used for conformational sampling, and how these techniques provide a basis for assessing the level of the flexibility within a sample. Although these approaches sacrifice atomic detail, the knowledge gained from ensemble analysis is often appropriate for developing hypotheses and guiding biochemical experiments. Examples of the use of SAXS and combined approaches with X-ray crystallography, NMR, and computational methods to characterize dynamic assemblies are presented.
Research Organization:
Lawrence Berkeley National Lab. (LBNL), Berkeley, CA (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Office of Science (SC)
Grant/Contract Number:
AC02-05CH11231
OSTI ID:
1815576
Journal Information:
European Biophysics Journal, Journal Name: European Biophysics Journal Journal Issue: 10 Vol. 41; ISSN 0175-7571
Publisher:
Springer NatureCopyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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A Structure-free Method for Quantifying Conformational Flexibility in proteins journal June 2016
C H 2 domain orientation of human immunoglobulin G in solution: Structural comparison of glycosylated and aglycosylated Fc regions using small-angle X-ray scattering journal December 2018
FoXS, FoXSDock and MultiFoXS: Single-state and multi-state structural modeling of proteins and their complexes based on SAXS profiles journal May 2016
HU multimerization shift controls nucleoid compaction journal July 2016
Low potency toxins reveal dense interaction networks in metabolism journal February 2016
Bayesian inference of protein conformational ensembles from limited structural data journal December 2018
A Single Amino-Acid Substitution Allows Endo-Polygalacturonase of Fusarium verticillioides to Acquire Recognition by PGIP2 from Phaseolus vulgaris journal November 2013
Conformational Sampling and Binding Site Assessment of Suppression of Tumorigenicity 2 Ectodomain journal January 2016
Identifying and Visualizing Macromolecular Flexibility in Structural Biology journal September 2016
Untangling the Conformational Plasticity of V66M Human proBDNF Polymorphism as a Modifier of Psychiatric Disorder Susceptibility journal June 2022
Dynamic Viral Glycoprotein Machines: Approaches for Probing Transient States That Drive Membrane Fusion journal January 2016
Review of the fundamental theories behind small angle X-ray scattering, molecular dynamics simulations, and relevant integrated application journal January 2015
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Bayesian inference of protein ensembles from SAXS data journal January 2016
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