Molecular insights into substrate binding mechanism of undecaprenyl pyrophosphate with membrane integrated phosphatidyl glycerophosphate phosphatase B (PgpB) using molecular dynamics simulation approach

Undecaprenyl phosphate (C55-P) acts as carrier lipid in the synthesis of peptidoglycan, which is de novo synthesized from dephosphorylation of undecaprenyl pyrophosphate (C55-PP). The phosphatidylglycerol phosphate phosphatase B (PgpB) catalyzes the dephosphorylation of C55-PP and forms C55-P. As no structural study has been made regarding the binding of C55-PP to PgpB, in the current study, in silico molecular docking, followed by 150 ns molecular dynamics simulation of the putative binding complex in membrane/solvent environment has been performed to understand conformational dynamics. Results are compared with simulated apo form and PE inhibitor-bound form. Analysis of correlated residual fluctuation network in apo form, C55-PP bound and PE inhibitor-bound form suggests that difference in dynamic coupling between TM domain and α2 and α3 helix of periplasmic domain provides ligand binding to facilitate catalysis or to show inhibitory activity. Distance distribution in catalytic residual pair, H207-R104; H207-R201 and H207-D211 which stabilizes phosphate-enzyme intermediate shows a narrow peak in 2.4–3.6 Å in substrate-bound compared to apo form. Binding interactions and binding free energy analyses complement the partial inhibition of PE where PE has less binding free energy compared to the C55-PP substrate as well as the difference in binding interaction with catalytic pocket. Thus, the present study provides how substrate binding couples the movement in TM domain and periplasmic domain which might help in the understanding of active site communication in PgpB. C55-PP phosphatase interactions with a catalytic pocket of PgpB provide new insight for designing drugs against bacterial infection.