Biology subjects

Agajanian, S.

Publications and source records attributed to Agajanian, S..

9 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2022

Atomistic Simulations and Network-Based Energetic Profiling of Binding and Allostery in the SARS-CoV-2 Spike Omicron BA.1, BA.1.1, BA.2 and BA.3 Subvariant Complexes with the Host Receptor: Revealing Hidden Functional Roles of the Binding Hotspots in Mediating Epistatic Effects and Long-Range Communication with Allosteric Pockets

In this study, we performed all-atom MD simulations of the RBD-ACE2 complexes for BA.1, BA.1.1, BA.2, an BA.3 Omicron subvariants, conducted a systematic mutational scanning of the RBD-ACE2 binding interfaces and analysis of electrostatic effects. The binding free energy computations of the Omicron RBD-ACE2 complexes and comprehensive examination of the electrostatic interactions quantify the driving forces of binding and provide new insights into energetic mechanisms underlying evolutionary differences between Omicron variants. A systematic mutational scanning of the RBD residues determines the protein stability centers and binding energy hotpots in the Omicron RBD-ACE2 complexes. By employing the ensemble-based global network analysis, we proposed a community-based topological model of the Omicron RBD interactions that characterized functional roles of the Omicron mutational sites in mediating non-additive epistatic effects of mutations. Our findings suggested that non-additive contributions to the binding affinity may be mediated by R493, Y498, and Y501 sites and are greater for the Omicron BA.1.1 and BA.2 complexes that display the strongest ACE2 binding affinity among the Omicron subvariants. A network-centric adaptation model of the reversed allosteric communication is unveiled in this study that established a robust connection between allosteric network hotspots and potential allosteric binding pockets. Using this approach, we demonstrated that mediating centers of long-range interactions could anchor the experimentally validated allosteric binding pockets. Through an array of complementary approaches and proposed models, this comprehensive and multi-faceted computational study revealed and quantified multiple functional roles of the key Omicron mutational site R493, R498 and Y501 acting as binding energy hotspots, drivers of electrostatic interactions as well as mediators of epistatic effects and long-range communications with the allosteric pockets.

biophysics↗

bioRxiv2022

Integrating Conformational Dynamics and Perturbation-Based Network Modeling for Mutational Profiling of Binding and Allostery in the SARS-CoV-2 Spike Variant Complexes with Antibodies: Balancing Local and Global Determinants of Mutational Escape Mechanisms

In this study, we combined all-atom MD simulations, the ensemble-based mutational scanning of protein stability and binding, and perturbation-based network profiling of allosteric interactions in the SARS-Cov-2 Spike complexes with a panel of cross-reactive and ultra-potent single antibodies (B1-182.1 and A23-58.1) as well as antibody combinations (A19-61.1/B1-182.1 and A19-46.1/B1-182.1). Using this approach, we quantify local and global effects of mutations in the complexes, identify structural stability centers, characterize binding energy hotspots and predict the allosteric control points of long-range interactions and communications. Conformational dynamics and distance fluctuation analysis revealed the antibody-specific structural stability signatures of the spike complexes that can dictate the pattern of mutational escape. By employing an integrated analysis of conformational dynamics and binding energetics, we found that the potent antibodies that efficiently neutralize Omicron spike variant can form the dominant binding energy hotpots with the conserved stability centers in which mutations may be restricted by the requirements of the folding stability and binding to the host receptor. The results show that protein stability and binding energetics of the SARS-CoV-2 spike complexes with the panel of cross-reactive ultrapotent antibodies are tolerant to the constellation of Omicron mutations. A network-based perturbation approach for mutational profiling of allosteric residues potentials revealed how antibody binding can modulate allosteric interactions and identified allosteric control points that can form vulnerable sites for mutational escape. This study suggested a mechanism in which the pattern of specific escape mutants for ultrapotent antibodies may not be solely determined by the binding interaction changes but are driven by a complex balance and tradeoffs between different local and global factors including the impact of mutations on structural stability, binding strength, long-range interactions and fidelity of allosteric signaling.

biophysics↗

bioRxiv2022

Hierarchical Computational Modeling and Dynamic Network Analysis of Allosteric Regulation in the SARS-CoV-2 Spike Omicron Trimer Structures: Omicron Mutations Cooperate to Allosterically Control Balance of Protein Stability and Conformational Adaptability

Structural and computational studies of the Omicron spike protein in various functional states and complexes provided important insights into molecular mechanisms underlying binding, high transmissibility, and escaping immune defense. However, the regulatory roles and functional coordination of the Omicron mutations are poorly understood and often ignored in the proposed mechanisms. In this work, we explored the hypothesis that the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein can function as a robust allosterically regulated machinery in which Omicron mutational sites are dynamically coupled and form a central engine of the allosteric network that regulates the balance between conformational plasticity, protein stability, and functional adaptability. In this study, we employed coarse-grained dynamics simulations of multiple full-length SARS-CoV-2 spike Omicron trimers structures in the closed and open states with the local energetic frustration analysis and collective dynamics mapping to understand the determinants and key hotspots driving the balance of protein stability and conformational adaptability. We have found that the Omicron mutational sites at the inter-protomer regions form regulatory clusters that control functional transitions between the closed and open states. Through perturbation-based modeling of allosteric interaction networks and diffusion analysis of communications in the closed and open spike states, we quantify the allosterically regulated activation mechanism and uncover specific regulatory roles of the Omicron mutations. The network modeling demonstrated that Omicron mutations form the inter-protomer electrostatic bridges that connect local stable communities and function as allosteric switches of signal transmission. The results of this study are consistent with the experiments, revealing distinct and yet complementary role of the Omicron mutational sites as a network of hotspots that enable allosteric modulation of structural stability and conformational changes which are central for spike activation and virus transmissibility.

biophysics↗

bioRxiv2021

The Landscape-Based Protein Stability Analysis and Network Modeling of Multiple Conformational States of the SARS-CoV-2 Spike D614 Mutant: Conformational Plasticity and Frustration-Driven Allostery as Energetic Drivers of Highly Transmissible Spike Variant

The structural and functional studies of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein variants revealed an important role of the D614G mutation that is shared across many variants of concern(VOCs), suggesting the effect of this mutation on the enhanced virus infectivity and transmissibility. The recent structural and biophysical studies provided important evidence about multiple conformational substates of the D614G spike protein. The development of a plausible mechanistic model which can explain the experimental observations from a more unified thermodynamic perspective is an important objective of the current work. In this study, we employed efficient and accurate coarse-grained simulations of multiple structural substates of the D614G spike trimers together with the ensemble-based mutational frustration analysis to characterize the dynamics signatures of the conformational landscapes. By combining the local frustration profiling of the conformational states with residue-based mutational scanning of protein stability and network analysis of allosteric interactions and communications, we determine the patterns of mutational sensitivity in the functional regions and sites of variants. We found that the D614G mutation may induce a considerable conformational adaptability of the open states in the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein without compromising folding stability and integrity of the spike protein. The results suggest that the D614G mutant may employ a hinge-shift mechanism in which the dynamic couplings between the site of mutation and the inter-protomer hinge modulate the inter-domain interactions, global mobility change and the increased stability of the open form. This study proposes that mutation-induced modulation of the conformational flexibility and energetic frustration at the inter-protomer interfaces may serve as an efficient mechanism for allosteric regulation of the SARS-CoV-2 spike proteins.

biophysics↗

bioRxiv2021

Atomistic Simulations and Deep Mutational Scanning of Protein Stability and Binding Interactions in the SARS-CoV-2 Spike Protein Complexes with Nanobodies: Molecular Determinants of Mutational Escape Mechanisms

Structural and biochemical studies have recently revealed a range of rationally engineered nanobodies with efficient neutralizing capacity against SARS-CoV-2 virus and resilience against mutational escape. In this work, we combined atomistic simulations and conformational dynamics analysis with the ensemble-based mutational profiling of binding interactions for a diverse panel of SARS-CoV-2 spike complexes with nanobodies. Using this computational toolkit we identified dynamic signatures and binding affinity fingerprints for the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein complexes with nanobodies Nb6 and Nb20, VHH E, a pair combination VHH E+U, a biparatopic nanobody VHH VE, and a combination of CC12.3 antibody and VHH V/W nanobodies. Through ensemble-based deep mutational profiling of stability and binding affinities, we identify critical hotspots and characterize molecular mechanisms of SARS-CoV-2 spike protein binding with single ultra-potent nanobodies, nanobody cocktails and biparatopic nanobodies. By quantifying dynamic and energetic determinants of the SARS-CoV-2 S binding with nanobodies, we also examine the effects of circulating variants and escaping mutations. We found that mutational escape mechanisms may be controlled through structurally and energetically adaptable binding hotspots located in the host receptor-accessible binding epitope that are dynamically coupled to the stability centers in the distant epitope targeted by VHH U/V/W nanobodies. The results of this study suggested a mechanism in which through cooperative dynamic changes, nanobody combinations and biparatopic nanobody can modulate the global protein response and induce the increased resilience to common escape mutants.

biophysics↗

bioRxiv2021

Landscape-Based Mutational Sensitivity Cartography and Network Community Analysis of the SARS-CoV-2 Spike Protein Structures: Quantifying Functional Effects of the Circulating Variants

Structural and biochemical studies SARS-CoV-2 spike mutants with the enhanced infectivity have attracted significant attention and offered several mechanisms to explain the experimental data. In this study, we used an integrative computational approach to examine molecular mechanisms underlying functional effects of the D614G mutation by exploring atomistic modeling of the SARS-CoV-2 spike proteins as allosteric regulatory machines. We combined atomistic simulations, deep mutational scanning and sensitivity mapping together with the network-based community analysis to examine structures of the native and mutant SARS-CoV-2 spike proteins in different functional states. Conformational dynamics and analysis of collective motions in the SARS-CoV-2 spike proteins demonstrated that the D614 position anchors a key regulatory cluster that dictates functional transitions between open and closed states. Using mutational scanning and sensitivity analysis of the spike residues, we identified the evolution of stability hotspots in the SARS-CoV-2 spike structures of the mutant trimers. The results offer support to the reduced shedding mechanism of as a driver of the increased infectivity triggered by the D614G mutation. By employing the landscape-based network community analysis of the SARS-CoV-2 spike proteins, our results revealed that the D614G mutation can promote the increased number of stable communities in the open form by enhancing the stability of the inter-domain interactions. This study provides atomistic view of the interactions and stability hotspots in the SARS-CoV-2 spike proteins, offering a useful insight into the molecular mechanisms of the D614G mutation that can exert its functional effects through allosterically induced changes on stability of the residue interaction networks.

biophysics↗

bioRxiv2021

Dynamic Profiling of Binding and Allosteric Propensities of the SARS-CoV-2 Spike Protein with Different Classes of Antibodies: Mutational and Perturbation-Based Scanning Reveal Allosteric Duality of Functionally Adaptable Hotspots

Structural and biochemical studies of the SARS-CoV-2 spike complexes with highly potent antibodies have revealed multiple conformation-dependent epitopes and a broad range of recognition modes linked to different neutralization responses In this study, we combined atomistic simulations with mutational and perturbation-based scanning approaches to perform in silico profiling of binding and allosteric propensities of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein residues in complexes with B38, P2B-2F6, EY6A and S304 antibodies representing three different classes. Conformational dynamics analysis revealed that binding-induced modulation of soft modes can elicit the unique protein response to different classes of antibodies. Mutational scanning heatmaps and sensitivity analysis revealed the binding energy hotspots for different classes of antibodies that are consistent with the experimental deep mutagenesis, showing that differences in the binding affinity caused by global circulating variants in spike positions K417, E484 and N501 are relatively moderate and may not fully account for the observed antibody resistance effects. Through functional dynamics analysis and perturbation-response scanning of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein residues in the unbound form and antibody-bound forms, we examine how antibody binding can modulate allosteric propensities of spike protein residues and determine allosteric hotspots that control signal transmission and global conformational changes. These results show that residues K417, E484, and N501 targeted by circulating mutations correspond to a group of versatile allosteric centers in which small perturbations can modulate collective motions, alter the global allosteric response and elicit binding resistance. We suggest that SARS-CoV-2 S protein may exploit plasticity of specific allosteric hotspots to generate escape mutants that alter response to antibody binding without compromising activity of the spike protein.

biophysics↗

bioRxiv2021

Comparative Perturbation-Based Modeling of the SARS-CoV-2 Spike Protein Binding with Host Receptor and Neutralizing Antibodies : Structurally Adaptable Allosteric Communication Hotspots Define Spike Sites Targeted by Global Circulating Mutations

In this study, we used an integrative computational approach focused on comparative perturbation-based modeling to examine molecular mechanisms and determine functional signatures underlying role of functional residues in the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein that are targeted by novel mutational variants and antibody-escaping mutations. Atomistic simulations and functional dynamics analysis are combined with alanine scanning and mutational sensitivity profiling for the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein complexes with the ACE2 host receptor are REGN-COV2 antibody cocktail (REG10987+REG10933). Using alanine scanning and mutational sensitivity analysis, we have shown that K417, E484 and N501 residues correspond to key interacting centers with a significant degree of structural and energetic plasticity that allow mutants in these positions to afford the improved binding affinity with ACE2. Through perturbation-based network modeling and community analysis of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein complexes with ACE2 we demonstrate that E406, N439, K417 and N501 residues serve as effector centers of allosteric interactions and anchor major inter-molecular communities that mediate long-range communication in the complexes. The results provide support to a model according to which mutational variants and antibody-escaping mutations constrained by the requirements for host receptor binding and preservation of stability may preferentially select structurally plastic and energetically adaptable allosteric centers to differentially modulate collective motions and allosteric interactions in the complexes with the ACE2 enzyme and REGN-COV2 antibody combination. This study suggests that SARS-CoV-2 spike protein may function as a versatile and functionally adaptable allosteric machine that exploits plasticity of allosteric regulatory centers to fine-tune response to antibody binding without compromising activity of the spike protein.

biophysics↗

bioRxiv2021

Computational Analysis of Protein Stability and Allosteric Interaction Networks in Distinct Conformational Forms of the SARS-CoV-2 Spike D614G Mutant: Reconciling Functional Mechanisms through Allosteric Model of Spike Regulation

Structural and biochemical studies SARS-CoV-2 spike mutants with the enhanced infectivity have attracted significant attention and offered several mechanisms to explain the experimental data. The development of a unified view and a working model which is consistent with the diverse experimental data is an important focal point of the current work. In this study, we used an integrative computational approach to examine molecular mechanisms underlying functional effects of the D614G mutation by exploring atomistic modeling of the SARS-CoV-2 spike proteins as allosteric regulatory machines. We combined coarse-grained simulations, protein stability and dynamic fluctuation communication analysis along with network-based community analysis to simulate structures of the native and mutant SARS-CoV-2 spike proteins in different functional states. The results demonstrated that the D614 position anchors a key regulatory cluster that dictates functional transitions between open and closed states. Using molecular simulations and mutational sensitivity analysis of the SARS-CoV-2 spike proteins we showed that the D614G mutation can improve stability of the spike protein in both closed and open forms, but shifting thermodynamic preferences towards the open mutant form. The results offer support to the reduced shedding mechanism of S1 domain as a driver of the increased infectivity triggered by the D614G mutation. Through distance fluctuations communication analysis, we probed stability and allosteric communication propensities of protein residues in the native and mutant SARS-CoV-2 spike proteins, providing evidence that the D614G mutation can enhance long-range signaling of the allosteric spike engine. By employing network community analysis of the SARS-CoV-2 spike proteins, our results revealed that the D614G mutation can promote the increased number of stable communities and allosteric hub centers in the open form by reorganizing and enhancing the stability of the S1-S2 inter-domain interactions and restricting mobility of the S1 regions. This study provides atomistic-based view of the allosteric interactions and communications in the SARS-CoV-2 spike proteins, suggesting that the D614G mutation can exert its primary effect through allosterically induced changes on stability and communications in the residue interaction networks.

biophysics↗