Approach for Analyzing Protein Binding Sites Using Probe Molecules

Abstract

A new and efficient approach for analyzing protein-ligand binding sites is proposed using a large number of properly interacting probe molecules with human coagulation factor Xa (fXa). Firstly, the probe molecules are set up to mimic the functional groups of the known ligand RRR, and cover the fXa surface by molecular dynamics (MD) simulation without water. Then, the unit cell is filled with water for following MD simulation to replace weakly binding probe molecules with water. The analyzed probe density explains well the experimental crystal structure of RRR whose terminal pyridine group is placed in the unexpected S4 pocket. This result indicates that the probe density evaluated from this approach has the ability to explain the binding orientation of a ligand.