NMA Tutorial

Enterovirus 71 (EV-71) is a human pathogen that predominantly infects small children. The capsid is icoshedral and contains 60 protomer units. In a mature capsid the protomers are assembled as a set of 12 pentamers. Each protomer contains a single copy of the proteins VP1-VP4. During infection, the virus capsid expands to release its RNA into the host cell. This expanded capsid is known as the A-particle.

Aim

In this tutorial we will apply the ANM model to a single pentamer of the mature EV-71 capsid. We aim to identify the normal modes that contribute to the conformational changes within a pentamer during capsid expansion.

Create a working directory

First create a directory for all the MODE-TASK scripts using the Linux command:

mkdir ModeTask

Copy the entire contents of the MODE-TASK Scripts into the MODE-TASK directory.

Within this directory create a folder called Tutorial:

cd ModeTask
mkdir Tutorial

We will run all scripts from the ModeTask directory.

Preparation of structure of the mature capsid

  1. Download the 3VBS biological assembly (3VBS.pdb1) of the mature EV-71 capsid from the PDB.
  2. Open 3VBS.pdb1 in PyMOL.
  3. Use the split_states 3VBS command to visualise the full capsid.
  4. Save the capsid: File – Save Molecule – Select the first five states. Save as EV71_Pentamer.pdb into the ModeTask/Tutorial directory.

Each protomer has four subunits: VP1-VP4. VP4 is an internal capsid protein.

  • Number of residues per protomer = 842
  • Number of residues per pentamer = 4210

The estimated run time to perfom ANM on a complex of 4210 residues, using Mode Task is 25 hours.

For the sake of this tutorial we will use the coarseGrain.py script to construct a lower resolution pentamer.

Preparation of the structure of the A-particle capsid

  1. Download the 4N43 biological assembly (4N43.pdb1) of the A-partcile EV-71 capsid from the PDB.
  2. Open 4N43.pdb1 in PyMOL.
  3. Use the split_states 4N43 command to visualise the full capsid.
  4. Save the capsid: File – Save Molecule – Select the first five states. Save as Apart_Pentamer.pdb into the ModeTask/Tutorial directory.

Coarse grain

The MODE-TASK package is designed to analyse both single proteins and larger macromolecules such as a virus capsid. The ANM.cpp script contructs an elastic network model on all CA or CB atoms in a given PDB file. This is ideal for smaller protein complexes. For larger protein complexes, the coarseGrained.py script can be used to construct an additional coarse grained PDB file.

  1. Create a two models of the EV71 Pentamer complex with additional coarse graining set at levels 3 and 4 of selected CB atoms:
coarseGrain.py --pdb Tutorial/EV71_Pentamer.pdb --cg 3,4 --startingAtom 1 --output EV71_CG3.pdb --outdir Tutorial --atomType CB

The input paramaters include:

  • pdb: This is the pdb structure that you wish to coarse grain
  • cg: This specifies the levels of coarse graining. To select fewer atoms increase the level
  • starting atom: This specifies the first residue to be selected in the complex
  • output: The filename of the coarse grained pdb file
  • outdir: The directory in which to save the coarse grained pdb file

Output:

  1. EV71_CG3.pdb and EV71_CG4.pdb : Two separate coarse grained pdb files that have the coordinates of selected CB atoms from residues that are equally distributed across the complex. As an example, EV71_CG3.pdb is shown in the figure below.
  2. Command line output
============================================================
Started at: 2017-12-12 11:34:36.399300
------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY OF COARSE GRAINING PERFORMED AT LEVEL 3
No. atoms selected per unit: 122 from 842 original residues
No. atoms selected per macromolecule: 610 from 4210 orignal residues
------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY OF COARSE GRAINING PERFORMED AT LEVEL 4
No. atoms selected per unit: 54 from 842 original residues
No. atoms selected per macromolecule: 270 from 4210 orignal residues
------------------------------------------------------------
Completed at: 2017-12-12 11:34:36.541637
- Total time: 0:00:00

Note that, the same set of 122 atoms from each protomer were selected for CG3, likewise, the same set of 54 atoms from each protomer were selected for CG4 – thus the symmetry of the pentamer is retained.

_images/nma_tut0.png

Left) Crystal structure of the EV71 Pentamer (3VBS). Right) EV71_CG3.pdb contains 610 CB atoms from 4210 total residues.

Mode decomposition

The ANM.cpp script accepts a PDB file and a cutoff distance. The script constructs the Hessian matrix connecting all CB atoms within the specific cutoff radius. The script then performs singular value decomposition to return the eigenvalues and eigenvectors of the Hessian matrix.

Input parameters:

  • pdb: path to PDB file
  • cutoff: cutoff radius in A. The script will construct an elastic network model by connecting all atoms that interact within the cutoff distance (default = 15Å)
  • outdir: folder in which output is saved

Output:

W_values.txt: A list of 3N eigenvalues of the system. Eigenvalues are ordered from slowest to fastest.

VT_values.txt: A 3Nx3N list of the eigenvectors for each mode. Eigenvectors are printed as a set of rows.

U_values.txt: A 3Nx3N list of the eigenvectors for each mode. Eigenvectors are printed as a set of columns.

  1. Compile the ANM.cpp script

The ANM.cpp script requires classes of the AlgLib library. These classes can be found in the cpp/src folder in the GitHub Directory. The path to these classes must be specified in the compile command using the -I parameter:

g++ -I cpp/src/ ANM.cpp -o ANM

In this tutorial, we will perform a comparative analysis between the normal modes of the EV71_CG3.pdb and EV71_CG4.pdb

  1. Run ./ANM to analyse EV71_CG4.pdb with a cutoff of 24Å
./ANM --pdb Tutorial/EV71_CG4.pdb  --outdir Tutorial --atomType CB --cutoff 24

Example of the command line output:

Started at: 2017-08-22 11:55:33
Starting Decomposition
Completed at: 2017-08-22 11:55:47
- Total time: 0:00:13
  1. Run ./ANM to analyse EV71_CG3.pdb

3.1) First make a sub-directory to avoid overwriting of your previous ANM output:

mkdir Tutorial/CG3

3.2)

./ANM --pdb Tutorial/EV71_CG3.pdb --outdir Tutorial/CG3 --atomType CB --cutoff 24

Example of command line output:

Started at: 2017-08-22 11:56:42
Starting Decomposition
Completed at: 2017-08-22 11:59:14
- Total time: 0:02:0-704

Identification of modes that contribute to the conformational change

We have performed ANM on two separate pentamer complexes. From each model, we have obtained a set of eigenvalues and eigenvectors corresponding to each normal mode:

  1. EV71_CG4.pdb, total non-trivial modes = 804
  2. EV71_CG3.pdb, total non-trivial modes = 1824

For each model we will now identify the modes that contribute to the conformational change of a pentamer during capsid expansion.

We will then compare the modes from the respective models and determine if the additional coarse graining affected the ability to capture such modes.

To determine if our modes overlap with the direction of the conformational change, we must first determine the conformational change between the crystal structures of the mature and A-particle pentamer. The conformationMode.py scripts take two UNALIGNED pdb files and the set of all eigenvectors determined for the complex. The script aligns the structures, calculates the known conformational change and then identifies which modes contribute to the change.

Prepare the A-particle pentamer in PyMOL, using the biological assembly: 4n43.pdb1

Conformation mode

  1. Compute the overlap between all modes of the EV71_CG4 model:
conformationMode.py --pdbANM Tutorial/EV71_CG4.pdb --vtMatrix Tutorial/VT_values.txt  --pdbConf Tutorial/Apart_Pentamer.pdb --outdir Tutorial/ --atomType CB

Input paramters:

–pdbANM: This is the PDB file that you use to run ANM. Do not use the aligned file here

–vtMatrix: The eigenvalues obtained from ANM of the EV71_CG4 model

–pdbConf: This is the pdb file of the conformational change. In this case, the pentamer of the A-particle (The –pdbANM and –pdbConf must NOT BE ALIGNED)

Output:

A text file with the overlap and correlation of each mode to the conformational change. The modes are ordered by the absolute value of their overlap.

  1. Compute overlap between all modes of the EV71_CG3 model (Remember to specify the correct directory):
conformationMode.py --pdbANM Tutorial/EV71_CG3.pdb --vtMatrix Tutorial/CG3/VT_values.txt  --pdbConf Tutorial/Apart_Pentamer.pdb --outdir Tutorial/CG3 --atomType CB

Top output from conformationalMode.py of EV71_CG4:

MODE           Overlap             Correlation

Mode: 9        0.759547056636      0.502678274421
Mode: 37       0.274882204134      0.0404194084198
Mode: 36      -0.266695656516      0.116161361929
Mode: 23       0.260184892921      0.0752811758038
Mode: 608      0.224274263942      0.0255344947974
Mode: 189     -0.208122679764      0.143874874887
Mode: 355      0.165654954812      0.0535734675763
Mode: 56       0.14539061536       0.11985698672
Mode: 387     -0.137880035134      0.245587436772
Mode: 307     -0.130040876389      0.145317107434

Top output from conformationalMode.py of EV71_CG3:

MODE           Overlap             Correlation

Mode: 9       -0.663942246191      0.236900852193
Mode: 30      -0.235871923574      0.192794743468
Mode: 56       0.159507003696      0.083164362262
Mode: 101      0.157155354273      0.272502734273
Mode: 172      0.156716125374      0.275230637373
Mode: 166     -0.153026188385      0.332283689479
Mode: 189     -0.147803049356      0.372767489438
Mode: 38      -0.13204901279       0.196369524407
Mode: 423     -0.131685652034      0.334715006091
Mode: 76      -0.129977918229      0.296798866026

In addition, the command line output will specify the precise atoms over which the calculations were performed. (Of course, this will correspond to all atoms that are present in both conformations). The RMSD between the two structures will also be specified:

Started at: 2017-12-12 12:50:48.922586

*****************************************************************
WARNING!!!:
Not all chains from PDB files were selected
Suggested: Chain IDs do not match between PDB Files

*****************************************************************
Correlations calculated across 465 common residues (93 per 5 asymmetric units).
Breakdown per chain:

A: 32 residues per asymmetric unit
Residues selected include: 74 79 92 98 101 105 108 112 122 139 142 148 155 158 161 171
                           175 180 189 198 203 213 216 224 240 253 265 269 273 282
                           290 293

B: 29 residues per asymmetric unit
Residues selected include: 17 37 44 58 65 76 79 83 90 108 115 128 134 141 151 155 180
                           186 189 202 208 219 222 227 231 234 241 245 249

C: 32 residues per asymmetric unit
Residues selected include: 2 7 12 15 18 28 32 36 40 65 78 82 86 92 98 104 112 133 139
                           147 152 158 169 174 202 205 209 214 219 222 229 233

*****************************************************************


RMSD between the two conformations = 3.95802072351

Completed at: 2017-12-12 12:50:49.269902
- Total time: 0:00:00

Combination mode

This option allows to calculate the overlap and correlation to a conformational change, over a combination of modes. In this example, we will use the EV71_CG3 Model and perform the calculation over the modes 9 and 30.

combinationMode.py –pdbANM Tutorial/EV71_CG3.pdb –vtMatrix Tutorial/CG3/VT_values.txt –pdbConf Tutorial/Apart_Pentamer.pdb –modes 9,30 –outdir Tutorial/CG3 –atomType CB

Output from combinationMode.py

The command line output is the same as described for conformationMode.py

The script will also print out two text files:

  1. A file that specifies that calculated overlap and correlation over the full model:
MODE           Overlap              Correlation

Mode: 9        -0.663942246191      0.236900852193
Mode: 30       -0.235871923574      0.192794743468

*****************************************************************
Combined Overlap = 0.616937749679
Combined Correlation = 0.219893695954
*****************************************************************
  1. A file that gives a breakdown of the calculated overlap and correlation per chain in each asymmetric unit of the model. This is very useful for identifying which regions of the complex contribute the most to the conformational change for a given mode:
=================================================================
=================================================================

ASYMMETRIC UNIT: 1
CHAIN: A
MODE           Overlap              Correlation

Mode: 9        -0.677454134085      0.101259205597
Mode: 30       -0.396594527376      0.601345215538

Combined Overlap = 0.620398046618
Combined Correlation = 0.337867917512
-----------------------------------------------------------------
CHAIN: B
MODE           Overlap              Correlation

Mode: 9        -0.717931968623      0.491498558701
Mode: 30       -0.348260895864      0.249005547277

Combined Overlap = 0.679846136775
Combined Correlation = 0.321369216974
-----------------------------------------------------------------
CHAIN: C
MODE           Overlap              Correlation

Mode: 9       -0.637082761027       0.198091140187
Mode: 30       0.0309855898365      0.149051660589

Combined Overlap = 0.532447057412
Combined Correlation = 0.14767859844
-----------------------------------------------------------------

=================================================================
=================================================================

ASYMMETRIC UNIT: 2
CHAIN: A
MODE           Overlap              Correlation

Mode: 9        -0.677486033685      0.101126894833
Mode: 30       -0.396528584512      0.601655942534

Combined Overlap = 0.620396963618
Combined Correlation = 0.337655761311
-----------------------------------------------------------------
CHAIN: B
MODE           Overlap              Correlation

Mode: 9        -0.717946715867     0.491379282027
Mode: 30       -0.34820663545      0.249321165251

Combined Overlap = 0.679888476475
Combined Correlation = 0.321447980441
-----------------------------------------------------------------
CHAIN: C
MODE           Overlap              Correlation

Mode: 9       -0.637045607049       0.19801176313
Mode: 30       0.0310759318839      0.149266120068

Combined Overlap = 0.53259259653
Combined Correlation = 0.147730501227
-----------------------------------------------------------------

=================================================================
=================================================================

ASYMMETRIC UNIT: 3
.
.
.
ASYMMETRIC UNIT: 4
.
.
.
ASYMMETRIC UNIT: 5

Mode visualisation

From each model we have identified which mode overlaps the most with the direction of the conformational change. We can now project these vectors onto the respective models using the visualiseVector.py script and then visualise them as a set of frames in VMD:

1) Standard visualisation This option uses the default settings: Radius of arrow head = 2.20 Radius of arrow tail = 0.80 Arrow are coloured by chain in ascending order of PDB file according to the list:

In a biological assembly, respective chains from each asymmetric unit are presented in the same colour. The script can handle 20 non-identical changes, after which all arrows will be coloured black by default

1.1) Visualise eigenvectors for mode 9 of the CG4 model. Note this overlap is positive, thus the vectors act in the direction to conformational change. Therefore we can specify the direction as 1 (or rely on the default setting of direction = 1) when visualising the vectors:

visualiseVector.py –pdb Tutorial/EV71_CG4.pdb –vtMatrix Tutorial/VT_values.txt –mode 9 –atomType CB –direction 1 –outdir Tutorial OR visualiseVector.py –pdb Tutorial/EV71_CG4.pdb –vtMatrix Tutorial/VT_values.txt –mode 9 –atomType CB –outdir Tutorial

1.2) Visualise eigenvectors for mode 9 of the CG3 model. Note this overlap is negative, thus the vectors act in the opposite direction to conformational change. Therefore we must specify the direction as -1 when visualising the vectors:

visualiseVector.py –pdb Tutorial/CG3/EV71_CG3.pdb –vtMatrix Tutorial/CG3/VT_values.txt –mode 9 –atomType CB –direction -1 –outdir Tutorial/CG3

Output from visualiseVector.py

The script will produce a folder named VISUALISE. For every mode that you give to visualiseVector.py two files will be produced:

  1. A VISUAL PDB file. This can be opened in VMD and visualised as a set of 50 frames.
  2. A VISUAL_ARROWS text file. This file contains a Tcl script that can be copied into the VMD TK console. The script plots a set of arrows indicating the direction of each atom.

Visualising the results in VMD

  1. Open VMD.
  2. To load the VISUAL_9.pdb file click the following tabs: File >> New Molecule >> Browse >> Select VISUAL_9.pdb.
  3. The VISUAL_9.pdb file contains a set of 50 frames of the eigenvectors of mode 9. This can be visualised as a movie by clicking on the Play button. The frame set can also be coloured to the user’s desire using the options under the Graphics >> Representations
  4. The VISUAL_ARROWS text file contains a script that can be copied and pasted straight into the Tk Console in VMD: Extensions >> Tk Console
  5. To obtain a clearer observation, change the background to white: Graphics >> Colors >> Under Categories select Display >> Under Names select Background >> Under Colors select White
  6. To obtain only the arrows, delete all frames of the VISUAL_9.pdb molecules: Right click on the number of frames >> Delete frames >> Delete frames 0 to 49

7) Alternatively you can plot the arrows onto the original PDB (uncoarse grained) PDB file and visualise it in cartoon format: Load EV71_Pentamer.pdb into VMD >>``Graphics >> Representations >> Drawing method >> NewCartoon`` >> copy and paste the VISUAL_ARROWS text file into the Tk Console. To improve clarity under the NewCartoon options select: Material >> Transparent Spline Style  >> B-Spline

  1. To colour tha protein complex by chain:
    Graphics >> Colours >> Under Categories select Chain >> Under Name select A >> Under Colours select Red To match the arrows colours as: Chain A = Red Chain B = Blue Chain C = Orche Chain D = Purple Finally instruct VMD to colour by chain Graphics >> Representations >> Coloring Method >> Chain
_images/Default_Visualisation.png

Fig: Visualisation in VMD. Left) Only arrows depicted Right) Arrows plotted onto cartoon depiction of pentamer

  1. Additional options for visualisation

Here you have the options to: 2.1) Change the thickness and length of the arrows 2.2) Specify the colours of the arrows for each change 2.3) Visualise the motion and draw arrows for a single or specified set of asymmetric units 2.4) Draw arrows for a single chain

We will demonstrate each of the above options using the EV71_CG4 model.

2.1) Change the thickness and length of the arrows Here we will increase the thickness of the arrow head to 3.0, increase the thickness of the arrow tail to 1.5 and the increase the length pf each arrow by a factor of 2

visualiseVector.py –pdb Tutorial/EV71_CG4.pdb –vtMatrix Tutorial/VT_values.txt –mode 9 –atomType CB –outdir Tutorial –head 3.0 –tail 1.5 –arrowLength 2
_images/Arrows_Visualisation.png

Fig: Visualisation in VMD after increasing arrow sizes

2.2) specify the colours of the arrows for each change

Here we will colour the arrows as follows:

Chain A = Yellow Chain B = Blue Chain C = Pink Chain D = Green

visualiseVector.py –pdb Tutorial/EV71_CG4.pdb –vtMatrix Tutorial/VT_values.txt –mode 9 –atomType CB –outdir Tutorial –colourByChain yellow,blue,pink,green

_images/Colours_Visualisation.png

Fig: Visualisation in VMD with arrows coloured as specified by user

2.3) Visualise the motion and draw arrows for a single or specified set of asymmetric units

Here we will visualise the motion of asymmetric units 1 and 3.

visualiseVector.py –pdb Tutorial/EV71_CG4.pdb –vtMatrix Tutorial/VT_values.txt –mode 9 –atomType CB –outdir Tutorial –aUnits 1,3

The motion will be captured in the frame set: VISUAL_AUNITS_9.pdb in the Tutorial folder, and can be played in VMD.

_images/Units_Visualisation.png

Fig: Vectors arrows for asymmetric units 1 and 3 of the pentamer

2.4) Draw arrows for a single chain

Here we will draw arrows only for A chain of asymmetric unit 1 of the EV71_CG4 pentamer, in colour gray
visualiseVector.py –pdb Tutorial/EV71_CG4.pdb –vtMatrix Tutorial/VT_values.txt –mode 9 –atomType CB –outdir Tutorial –aUnits 1 –chain A –colourByChain gray
_images/Chains_Visualisation.png

Fig: Vectors arrows for Chain A of asymmetric units 1 in colour gray

Mean square fluctuation (MSF)

Next, we will use the meanSquareFluctuations.py script to calculate the MSF of the CB atoms. The scripts allows you to calculate:

  1. the MSFs, calculated over all modes
  2. the MSFs of the CB atoms for a specific mode, or a specific range of modes.

The script also allows for comparison of MSF obtained from modes of different models. We can use the –pdbConf2 parameter to send the script a second PDB model. The script will then calculate the MSF of atoms corresponding to residues that are common between both models.

In this tutorial, we will analyse and compare the MSF between EV71_CG4 and EV71_CG3. This will give an indication as to whether or not the higher coarse grained model is also suitable to study the virus.

  1. We will compare the MSFs between the two models for a) all modes, and b) mode 9
meanSquareFluctuation.py --pdb Tutorial/EV71_CG3.pdb --wMatrix Tutorial/CG3/W_values.txt --vtMatrix Tutorial/CG3/VT_values.txt --pdbConf2 Tutorial/EV71_CG4.pdb --wMatrixC Tutorial/W_values.txt        --vtMatrixC Tutorial/VT_values.txt --modes 9 --outdir Tutorial/ --atomType CB

Output for Model CG3:

1) PDB1_msf.txt: Text file of the overall MSFs values for all residues of CG3

2) PDB1__msfSpecificModes.txt: MSFs for all residues for mode 9 of CG3

3) PDB1CommonResidues_msf.txt: Overal MSFs for residues (of CG3) common to CG3 and CG4

4) PDB1_CommonResidues_msfSpecificModes.txt: MSFs for residues (of CG3) common to CG3 and CG4 calculated for mode 9

Output for Model CG4:

1) PDBCompare_msf.txt:: Text file of the overall MSFs values for all residues of CG4

2) PDBCompare__msfSpecificModes.txt: MSFs for all residues for mode 9 of CG4

3) PDBCompareCommonResidues_msf.txt: overal MSFs for residues (of CG4) common to CG4 and CG3.

4) PDBCompare_CommonResidues_msfSpecificModes.txt: MSFs for residues (of CG4) common to CG4 and CG3 calculated for mode 9

Assembly Covariance

Now, we will use the assemblyCovariance.py script to calculate to plot various covariance matrices of the complex. For this example we will use the EV71_CG3 Model.

  1. First, we will plot the overall covariance for the full model, as calculated over all modes:

    assemblyCovariance.py –pdb Tutorial/EV71_CG3.pdb –wMatrix Tutorial/CG3/W_values.txt –vtMatrix Tutorial/CG3/VT_values.txt –modes all –outdir Tutorial/CG3/ –atomType CB

The above function will produce a plot corresponding to the full model, AND as a default a second plot that zooms into the first asymmetric unit will also be produced

_images/Covariance_Full.png

Fig: Overall covariance matrix for the full EV71_CG3 Model

_images/Covariance_AUnits.png

Fig: Overall covariance matrix for a single protomer within the EV71_CG3 Model

  1. Now we will use the additional options to calculate the covariance for mode 7 only (the first non-trivial mode). We will also plot the covariance between the asymmetric units 1 and 3, and then zoom into chain A of the first asymmetric unit. We have also adjusted the values of the axes to increase sensitivity for a single mode.

    assemblyCovariance.py –pdb Tutorial/EV71_CG3.pdb –wMatrix Tutorial/CG3/W_values.txt –vtMatrix Tutorial/CG3/VT_values.txt –modes 7 –aUnits 1,3 –zoom 1,A –outdir Tutorial/CG3/M7 –atomType CB –vmin -0.005 –vmax 0.005

The above function will produce a plot corresponding to the full model for mode 7, a second plot that zooms into covariance between the first and third asymmetric units, and a third plot for the covariance of Chain A and Unit 1.

_images/Covariance_FullMode7.png

Fig: Covariance matrix for the full EV71_CG3 Model calculated over Mode 7

_images/Covariance_AUnits1_3.png

Fig: Covariance matrix for the asymmetric units 1 and 3 of the EV71_CG3 Model calculated over Mode 7

_images/Covariance_Zoom.png

Fig: Covariance matrix for Chain A in asymmetric units 1 the EV71_CG3 Model calculated over Mode 7

For each of the steps above, the script also outputs each covariance matrix in txt file format.