The Dynamics of Ligand Barrier Crossing Inside the Acetylcholinesterase Gorge
- University of California, San Diego
The dynamics of ligand movement through the constricted region of the acetylcholinesterase gorge is important in understanding how the ligand gains access to and is released from the active site of the enzyme. Molecular dynamics simulations of the simple ligand, tetramethylammonium, crossing this bottleneck region are conducted using umbrella potential sampling and activated .ux techniques. The low potential of mean force obtained is consistent with the fast reaction rate of acetylcholinesterase observed experimentally. From the results of the activated dynamics simulations, local conformational .uctuations of the gorge residues and larger scale collective motions of the protein are found to correlate highly with the ligand crossing.
- Research Organization:
- Pacific Northwest National Lab., Richland, WA (US), Environmental Molecular Sciences Lab. (US)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- US Department of Energy (US)
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC06-76RL01830
- OSTI ID:
- 15005621
- Journal Information:
- Biophysical Journal, Vol. 85, Issue 4; Other Information: PBD: 1 Oct 2003
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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