GRAMM-X public web server for protein-protein docking

This is the publisher's version, also available electronically from "http://nar.oxfordjournals.org".Protein docking software GRAMM-X and its web interface (http://vakser.bioinformatics.ku.edu/resources/gramm/grammx) extend the original GRAMM Fast Fourier Transformation methodology by employing smoothed potentials, refinement stage, and knowledge-based scoring. The web server frees users from complex installation of database-dependent parallel software and maintaining large hardware resources needed for protein docking simulations. Docking problems submitted to GRAMM-X server are processed by a 320 processor Linux cluster. The server was extensively tested by benchmarking, several months of public use, and participation in the CAPRI server track

RsfA (YbeB) Proteins Are Conserved Ribosomal Silencing Factors

The YbeB (DUF143) family of uncharacterized proteins is encoded by almost all bacterial and eukaryotic genomes but not archaea. While they have been shown to be associated with ribosomes, their molecular function remains unclear. Here we show that YbeB is a ribosomal silencing factor (RsfA) in the stationary growth phase and during the transition from rich to poor media. A knock-out of the rsfA gene shows two strong phenotypes: (i) the viability of the mutant cells are sharply impaired during stationary phase (as shown by viability competition assays), and (ii) during transition from rich to poor media the mutant cells adapt slowly and show a growth block of more than 10 hours (as shown by growth competition assays). RsfA silences translation by binding to the L14 protein of the large ribosomal subunit and, as a consequence, impairs subunit joining (as shown by molecular modeling, reporter gene analysis, in vitro translation assays, and sucrose gradient analysis). This particular interaction is conserved in all species tested, including Escherichia coli, Treponema pallidum, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Synechocystis PCC 6803, as well as human mitochondria and maize chloroplasts (as demonstrated by yeast two-hybrid tests, pull-downs, and mutagenesis). RsfA is unrelated to the eukaryotic ribosomal anti-association/60S-assembly factor eIF6, which also binds to L14, and is the first such factor in bacteria and organelles. RsfA helps cells to adapt to slow-growth/stationary phase conditions by down-regulating protein synthesis, one of the most energy-consuming processes in both bacterial and eukaryotic cells

Global and local structural similarity in protein–protein complexes: Implications for template-based docking

The increasing amount of structural information on protein–protein interactions makes it possible to predict the structure of protein–protein complexes by comparison/alignment of the interacting proteins to the ones in cocrystallized complexes. In the predictions based on structure similarity, the template search is performed by structural alignment of the target interactors with the entire structures or with the interface only of the subunits in cocrystallized complexes. This study investigates the scope of the structural similarity that facilitates the detection of a broad range of templates significantly divergent from the targets. The analysis of the target-template similarity is based on models of protein–protein complexes in a large representative set of heterodimers. The similarity of the biological and crystal packing interfaces, dissimilar interface structural motifs in overall similar structures, interface similarity to the full structure, and local similarity away from the interface were analyzed. The structural similarity at the protein–protein interfaces only was observed in ~25% of target-template pairs with sequence identity <20% and primarily homodimeric templates. For ~50% of the target-template pairs, the similarity at the interface was accompanied by the similarity of the whole structure. However, the structural similarity at the interfaces was still stronger than that of the noninterface parts. The study provides insights into structural and functional diversity of protein–protein complexes, and relative performance of the interface and full structure alignment in docking

GPU.proton.DOCK: Genuine Protein Ultrafast proton equilibria consistent DOCKing

GPU.proton.DOCK (Genuine Protein Ultrafast proton equilibria consistent DOCKing) is a state of the art service for in silico prediction of protein–protein interactions via rigorous and ultrafast docking code. It is unique in providing stringent account of electrostatic interactions self-consistency and proton equilibria mutual effects of docking partners. GPU.proton.DOCK is the first server offering such a crucial supplement to protein docking algorithms—a step toward more reliable and high accuracy docking results. The code (especially the Fast Fourier Transform bottleneck and electrostatic fields computation) is parallelized to run on a GPU supercomputer. The high performance will be of use for large-scale structural bioinformatics and systems biology projects, thus bridging physics of the interactions with analysis of molecular networks. We propose workflows for exploring in silico charge mutagenesis effects. Special emphasis is given to the interface-intuitive and user-friendly. The input is comprised of the atomic coordinate files in PDB format. The advanced user is provided with a special input section for addition of non-polypeptide charges, extra ionogenic groups with intrinsic pKa values or fixed ions. The output is comprised of docked complexes in PDB format as well as interactive visualization in a molecular viewer. GPU.proton.DOCK server can be accessed at http://gpudock.orgchm.bas.bg/

GWIDD: Genome-wide protein docking database

Structural information on interacting proteins is important for understanding life processes at the molecular level. Genome-wide docking database is an integrated resource for structural studies of protein–protein interactions on the genome scale, which combines the available experimental data with models obtained by docking techniques. Current database version (August 2009) contains 25 559 experimental and modeled 3D structures for 771 organisms spanned over the entire universe of life from viruses to humans. Data are organized in a relational database with user-friendly search interface allowing exploration of the database content by a number of parameters. Search results can be interactively previewed and downloaded as PDB-formatted files, along with the information relevant to the specified interactions. The resource is freely available at http://gwidd.bioinformatics.ku.edu

The RosettaDock server for local protein–protein docking

The RosettaDock server (http://rosettadock.graylab.jhu.edu) identifies low-energy conformations of a protein–protein interaction near a given starting configuration by optimizing rigid-body orientation and side-chain conformations. The server requires two protein structures as inputs and a starting location for the search. RosettaDock generates 1000 independent structures, and the server returns pictures, coordinate files and detailed scoring information for the 10 top-scoring models. A plot of the total energy of each of the 1000 models created shows the presence or absence of an energetic binding funnel. RosettaDock has been validated on the docking benchmark set and through the Critical Assessment of PRedicted Interactions blind prediction challenge

RosettaAntibody: antibody variable region homology modeling server

The RosettaAntibody server (http://antibody.graylab.jhu.edu) predicts the structure of an antibody variable region given the amino-acid sequences of the respective light and heavy chains. In an initial stage, the server identifies and displays the most sequence homologous template structures for the light and heavy framework regions and each of the complementarity determining region (CDR) loops. Subsequently, the most homologous templates are assembled into a side-chain optimized crude model, and the server returns a picture and coordinate file. For users requesting a high-resolution model, the server executes the full RosettaAntibody protocol which additionally models the hyper-variable CDR H3 loop. The high-resolution protocol also relieves steric clashes by optimizing the CDR backbone torsion angles and by simultaneously perturbing the relative orientation of the light and heavy chains. RosettaAntibody generates 2000 independent structures, and the server returns pictures, coordinate files, and detailed scoring information for the 10 top-scoring models. The 10 models enable users to use rational judgment in choosing the best model or to use the set as an ensemble for further studies such as docking. The high-resolution models generated by RosettaAntibody have been used for the successful prediction of antibody–antigen complex structures

Coassembly of Mgm1 isoforms requires cardiolipin and mediates mitochondrial inner membrane fusion

The soluble and membrane-anchored isoforms of Mgm1 are only active when they work together (in trans)

Computational modelling of NF-κB activation by IL-1RI and its co-receptor TILRR, predicts a role for Cytoskeletal Sequestration of IκBα in inflammatory signalling.

The transcription factor NF-κB (nuclear factor kappa B) is activated by Toll-like receptors and controlled by mechanotransduction and changes in the cytoskeleton. In this study we combine 3-D predictive protein modelling and in vitro experiments with in silico simulations to determine the role of the cytoskeleton in regulation of NF-κB. Simulations used a comprehensive agent-based model of the NF-κB pathway, which includes the type 1 IL-1 receptor (IL-1R1) complex and signalling intermediates, as well as cytoskeletal components. Agent based modelling relies on in silico reproductions of systems through the interactions of its components, and provides a reliable tool in investigations of biological processes, which require spatial considerations and involve complex formation and translocation of regulatory components. We show that our model faithfully reproduces the multiple steps comprising the NF-κB pathway, and provides a framework from which we can explore novel aspects of the system. The analysis, using 3-D predictive protein modelling and in vitro assays, demonstrated that the NF-κB inhibitor, IκBα is sequestered to the actin/spectrin complex within the cytoskeleton of the resting cell, and released during IL-1 stimulation, through a process controlled by the IL-1RI co-receptor TILRR (Toll-like and IL-1 receptor regulator). In silico simulations using the agent-based model predict that the cytoskeletal pool of IκBα is released to adjust signal amplification in relation to input levels. The results suggest that the process provides a mechanism for signal calibration and enables efficient, activation-sensitive regulation of NF-κB and inflammatory responses