Machine Learning Reveals the Critical Interactions for SARS-CoV-2 Spike Protein Binding to ACE2.
Anna PavlovaZijian ZhangAtanu AcharyaDiane L LynchYui Tik PangZhongyu MouJerry M ParksChristophe J ChipotJames C GumbartPublished in: The journal of physical chemistry letters (2021)
SARS-CoV and SARS-CoV-2 bind to the human ACE2 receptor in practically identical conformations, although several residues of the receptor-binding domain (RBD) differ between them. Herein, we have used molecular dynamics (MD) simulations, machine learning (ML), and free-energy perturbation (FEP) calculations to elucidate the differences in binding by the two viruses. Although only subtle differences were observed from the initial MD simulations of the two RBD-ACE2 complexes, ML identified the individual residues with the most distinctive ACE2 interactions, many of which have been highlighted in previous experimental studies. FEP calculations quantified the corresponding differences in binding free energies to ACE2, and examination of MD trajectories provided structural explanations for these differences. Lastly, the energetics of emerging SARS-CoV-2 mutations were studied, showing that the affinity of the RBD for ACE2 is increased by N501Y and E484K mutations but is slightly decreased by K417N.
Keyphrases
- molecular dynamics
- sars cov
- density functional theory
- angiotensin converting enzyme
- angiotensin ii
- machine learning
- respiratory syndrome coronavirus
- binding protein
- endothelial cells
- depressive symptoms
- transcription factor
- protein protein
- mass spectrometry
- big data
- monte carlo
- coronavirus disease
- solid state
- genetic diversity