Turning up the heat mimics allosteric signaling in imidazole-glycerol phosphate synthase

Using a combination of MD simulations and NMR, the authors investigate how temperature affects allostery in imidazole glycerol phosphate synthase (IGPS), revealing that increase of temperature triggers local amino acid dynamics and providing insights into mechanism of allosteric regulation. Allosteric drugs have the potential to revolutionize biomedicine due to their enhanced selectivity and protection against overdosage. However, we need to better understand allosteric mechanisms in order to fully harness their potential in drug discovery. In this study, molecular dynamics simulations and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy are used to investigate how increases in temperature affect allostery in imidazole glycerol phosphate synthase. Results demonstrate that temperature increase triggers a cascade of local amino acid-to-amino acid dynamics that remarkably resembles the allosteric activation that takes place upon effector binding. The differences in the allosteric response elicited by temperature increase as opposed to effector binding are conditional to the alterations of collective motions induced by either mode of activation. This work provides an atomistic picture of temperature-dependent allostery, which could be harnessed to more precisely control enzyme function.

Automated summary

Through molecular dynamics simulations and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, the authors investigate the effect of temperature on allostery in imidazole glycerol phosphate synthase (IGPS). They find that an increase in temperature triggers local amino acid dynamics, providing insights into the mechanism of allosteric regulation. This study offers an atomistic understanding of temperature-dependent allostery and its potential for controlling enzyme function.