Elucidating the Complex Membrane Binding of a Protein With Multiple Anchoring Domains Using extHMMM

Abstract

Membrane binding is a crucial mechanism for many proteins, but understanding the specific interactions between proteins and membranes remains a challenging endeavor. Coagulation factor Va (FVa) is a large protein whose membrane interactions are complicated due to the presence of multiple anchoring domains that individually can bind to lipid membranes. Using molecular dynamics simulations, we investigate the membrane binding of FVa and identify the key mechanisms that govern its interaction with membranes. Our results reveal that FVa can either adopt an upright or a tilted molecular orientation upon membrane binding. We further find that the domain organization of FVa deviates (sometimes significantly) from its crystallographic reference structure, and that the molecular orientation of the protein matches with domain reorganization to align the C2 domain toward its favored membrane-normal orientation. We identify specific amino acid residues that exhibit contact preference with phosphatidylserine lipids over phosphatidylcholine lipids, and we observe that mostly electrostatic effects contribute to this preference. The observed lipid-binding process and characteristics, specific to FVa or common among other membrane proteins, in concert with domain reorganization and molecular tilt, elucidate the complex membrane binding dynamics of FVa and provide important insights into the molecular mechanisms of protein-membrane interactions. An updated version of the HMMM model, termed extHMMM, is successfully employed for efficiently observing membrane bindings of systems containing the whole FVa molecule. Understanding the intricacies of protein-membrane interaction is essential for fleshing out the functional roles of membrane proteins. Substantial evidence indicates that the binding of some proteins, such as coagulation factor Va, proceeds in a multi-step manner requiring some form of rearrangements within the structure and dynamics of the protein, as well as in the protein's orientation relative to the membrane surface. In the case of factor Va, the intricate binding process can be attributed to the presence of multiple membrane-anchoring domains. In order to feasibly study the dynamics of these mechanisms, we employ an enhanced membrane-mimetic model, HMMM, capable of capturing such processes and rearrangements and making new discoveries possible using the molecular dynamics technique. The successful execution of these studies demanded several modifications to the original implementation of the HMMM. Our exploration not only improves our understanding of FVa's membrane binding dynamics but also contributes to the broader molecular mechanisms governing protein-membrane interactions.