Mapping Structural and Dynamic Divergence Across the MBOAT family

Abstract

Membrane Bound O-acyltransferases (MBOATs) are membrane embedded enzymes which catalyse acyl chain transfer to a diverse group of substrates including lipids, small-molecules and proteins. Recent MBOAT structures reveal a conserved structural core, despite wide-ranging functional specificity across both prokaryotes and eukaryotes. The structural basis of catalytic specificity, regulation and interactions with the surrounding environment remain uncertain, hindering effective therapeutic targeting. Here, we combine comparative molecular dynamics (MD) simulations with bioinformatics to assess molecular and interactional divergence across the family. In simulations, MBOATs differentially distort the bilayer depending on their substrate type. Additionally, we identify specific lipid binding sites surrounding MBOAT reactant gates into the surrounding membrane. We use bioinformatics to reveal a conserved role for re-entrant loop-2 in stabilisation of the MBOAT fold and identify a key hydrogen bond involved in DGAT1 dimerisation. Finally, we predict differences in MBOAT core solvation and water gating properties across the family. These data are pertinent to the design of MBOAT specific inhibitors that encompass dynamic information within cellular mimetic environments.