NORMAL MODE ANALYSIS OF G-ACTIN

We undertook a normal mode analysis of the G-actin monomer bound with ADP and Ca2+, in order to better understand the internal modes of this protein. The internal co-ordinates consisted of 1373 single bond torsions, plus an additional 11 torsions to parameterize the motion of the nucleotide and cation with respect to the protein. A generalized eigenvalue problem was solved to yield a complete description of the motionin the 0·1 to 17·0 picosecond time range. The modes were visualized using an interactive graphics routine. The softest, slowest modesinclude a propeller-like twisting of the large and small domain about the phosphate binding loops, a rolling of subdomain 4 about an α-helix axis and a scissor-type opening and closing of the ADP-binding cleft. The computed temperature factors agree well with experimental ones. A comparable analysis done on G-actin-ATP shows that the softest modes are almost identical. © 1993 Academic Press Limited.