Structural analysis of protein Z gene variants in patients with foetal losses

Thromb Haemost. 2013 Sep;110(3):534-42. doi: 10.1160/TH13-01-0005. Epub 2013 Jul 11.

Abstract

The role of protein Z (PZ) in the etiology of human disorders is unclear. A number of PZ gene variants, sporadic or polymorphic and found exclusively in the serine protease domain, have been observed. Crystal structures of PZ in complex with the PZ-dependent inhibitor (PZI) have been recently obtained. The aim of this study was a structural investigation of the serine protease PZ domain, aiming at finding common traits across disease-linked mutations. We performed 10-20 ns molecular dynamics for each of the observed PZ mutants to investigate their structure in aqueous solution. Simulation data were processed by novel tools to analyse the residue-by-residue backbone flexibility. Results showed that sporadic mutations are associated with anomalous flexibility of residues belonging to specific regions. Among them, the most important is a loop region which is in contact with the longest helix of PZI. Other regions have been identified, which hold anomalous flexibility associated with potentially protective gene variants. In conclusion, a possible interpretation of effects associated with observed gene variants is provided. The exploration of PZ/PZI interactions seems essential in explaining these effects.

Publication types

  • Multicenter Study

MeSH terms

  • Abortion, Spontaneous / blood*
  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Anticoagulants / metabolism
  • Blood Coagulation
  • Blood Proteins / chemistry*
  • Blood Proteins / genetics*
  • Case-Control Studies
  • Female
  • Genetic Variation
  • Humans
  • Middle Aged
  • Models, Molecular
  • Molecular Dynamics Simulation
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Mutation
  • Polymorphism, Genetic
  • Protein Structure, Tertiary
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Anticoagulants
  • Blood Proteins
  • plasma protein Z