Alterations in local stability and dynamics of A4V SOD1 in the presence of trifluoroethanol

Alterations in the local dynamics of Cu/Zn Superoxide dismutase (SOD1) due to mutations affect the protein folding, stability, and function leading to misfolding and aggregation seen in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Here, we study the structure and dynamics of the most devastating ALS mutation. A4V SOD1 in aqueous trifluoroethanol (TFE) through experiments and simulation. Far-UV circular dichroism (CD) studies shows that TFE at intermediate concentrations (similar to 15% - 30%) induce partially unfolded beta-sheet-rich extended conformations in MV SOD1 which subsequently aggregates. Molecular dynamics (MD) simulation results shows that A4V SOD1 increases local dynamics in the active site loops that leads to the destabilization of the beta-barrel and loss of hydrophobic contacts, thus stipulating a basis for aggregation. Free energy landscape (FEL) and essential dynamics (ED) analysis demonstrates the conformational heterogeneity in A4V SOD1. Our results thus shed light on the role of local unfolding and conformational dynamics in aggregation of SOD1.