Molecular Simulations and Markov State Modeling Reveal Inactive Form of Quorum Sensing Regulator SdiA of Escherichia Coli

Enteropathogenic Escherichia coli remains one of the most important pathogens infecting children and it is one of the main causes of persistent diarrhea worldwide. Enteropathogenic Escherichia coli is capable of forming biofilms. Several E. coli mechanisms are regulated by quorum sensing, including virulence factors and biofilm formation. Quorum sensing is the communication system of bacteria with the ability to respond to chemical molecules known as autoinducers. Suppressor of division inhibitor (SdiA) is a quorum sensing receptor present in enteropathogenic E. coli in humans that detect acyl-homoserine lactone type autoinducers. SdiA receptor can also respond to autoinducers produced by other bacterial species that control cell division and virulence. SdiA is regulated by 1-octanoyl-rac-glycerol, which serves as an energy source, signaling molecule, and substrate for membrane biogenesis. SdiA is a potential target, which can be used as an anti-infectious technique. Current crystallographic structures for virtual screening may not be sufficient for molecular docking. So they are not very predictive, because the structures are in the active form. It has been shown that SdiA protein is not activated without a ligand. Generally, ligands bind to the ligand binding domain of SdiA. We employ Markov modeling and molecular dynamics simulations to understand the behaviour of SdiA protein and find the possible inactive form. We find an unknown conformation after 24 molecular dynamics simulation runs with random initial velocities and Markov state modeling. In summary, using molecular simulations and Markov state modeling, we have obtained an unknown conformation, which is not available in the crystallographic structures of SdiA. This unknown conformation could be the structure of the inactive form without a ligand. The obtained ensemble structures could be used for virtual screening.

Automated summary

Enteropathogenic Escherichia coli is a significant pathogen causing persistent diarrhea in children worldwide. The bacteria can form biofilms, and its mechanisms, including virulence factors and biofilm formation, are regulated by quorum sensing. SdiA receptor in enteropathogenic E. coli can detect autoinducers and may serve as a potential target for anti-infectious techniques.