Human multidrug resistance protein 1 (hMRP1) is an important member of the ATPbinding cassette (ABC) transporter superfamily. It can extrude a variety of anticancer drugs and physiological organic anions across the plasma membrane, which is activated by substrate binding, and is accompanied by large-scale cooperative movements between different domains. Currently, it remains unclear completely about how the specific interactions between hMRP1 and its substrate are and which critical residues are responsible for allosteric signal transduction. To the end, we first construct an inward-facing state of hMRP1 using homology modeling method, and then dock substrate proinflammatory agent leukotriene C4 (LTC4) to hMRP1 pocket. The result manifests LTC4 interacts with two parts of hMRP1 pocket, namely the positively charged pocket (P pocket) and hydrophobic pocket (H pocket), similar to its binding mode with bMRP1 (bovine MRP1). Additionally, we use the Gaussian network model (GNM)-based thermodynamic method proposed by us to identify the key residues whose perturbations markedly alter their binding free energy. Here the conventional GNM is improved with covalent/non-covalent interactions and secondary structure information considered (denoted as sscGNM). In the result, sscGNM improves the flexibility prediction, especially for the nucleotide binding domains with rich kinds of secondary structures. The 46 key residue clusters located in different subdomains are identified which are highly consistent with experimental observations. Furtherly, we explore the long-range cooperation within the transporter. This study is helpful for strengthening the understanding of the work mechanism in ABC exporters and can provide important information to scientists in drug design studies.binding mode, Gaussian network model, hMRP1, key residues, thermodynamic cycle
| INTRODUCTIONMultidrug resistance (MDR) to chemotherapy is a major obstacle in the treatment of cancer patients. Human multidrug resistance protein 1 (hMRP1), a member of the ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporter superfamily, can export a wide variety of anticancer drugs such as vincristine, etoposide, anthracyclines, methotrexate, and physiological organic anions antioxidants GSH and proinflammatory agent leukotriene C4 (LTC4) across the cell membrane utilizing the energy from ATP binding and hydrolysis. 1 Studies have shown that the process of substrate transport is accompanied by large-scale cooperative motions between spatially separated subdomains. 2 Thus, there must exist a network of key residues mediating long-range signal transmission and allosteric coupling. 2,3 Identification of key functional residues is very important not only for an "in-depth" understanding of the mechanism of signal transmission but also for the structure-based drug design.