Grp94, an ER-localized molecular chaperone, is required
for the
folding and activation of many membrane and secretory proteins. Client
activation by Grp94 is mediated by nucleotide and conformational changes.
In this work, we aim to understand how microscopic changes from nucleotide
hydrolysis can potentiate large-scale conformational changes of Grp94.
We performed all-atom molecular dynamics simulations on the ATP-hydrolysis
competent state of the Grp94 dimer in four different nucleotide bound
states. We found that Grp94 was the most rigid when ATP was bound.
ATP hydrolysis or nucleotide removal enhanced mobility of the N-terminal
domain and ATP lid, resulting in suppression of interdomain communication.
In an asymmetric conformation with one hydrolyzed nucleotide, we identified
a more compact state, similar to experimental observations. We also
identified a potential regulatory role of the flexible linker, as
it formed electrostatic interactions with the Grp94 M-domain helix
near the region where BiP is known to bind. These studies were complemented
with normal-mode analysis of an elastic network model to investigate
Grp94’s large-scale conformational changes. SPM analysis identified
residues that are important in signaling conformational change, many
of which have known functional relevance in ATP coordination and catalysis,
client binding, and BiP binding. Our findings suggest that ATP hydrolysis
in Grp94 alters allosteric wiring and facilitates conformational changes.