TRAJELIX: a computational tool for the geometric
characterization of protein helices
during molecular dynamics simulations
A computer program was developed with the necessary
mathematical formalism for the geometric characterization of
distorted conformations of alpha-helices proteins, such as those
that can potentially be sampled during typical molecular dynamics
simulations. This formalism has been incorporated into
TRAJELIX, a new module within the SIMULAID framework
(
https://mezeim01.u.hpc.mssm.edu/simulaid/) that is capable of
monitoring distortions of alpha-helices in terms of their
displacement, global and local tilting, rotation around their axes,
compression/extension, winding/unwinding, and bending.
Accurate evaluation of these global and local structural properties
of the helix can help study possible intramolecular and
intermolecular changes in the helix packing of alpha-helical
membrane proteins, as shown here in an application to the
interacting helical domains of rhodopsin dimers. Quantification of
the dynamic structural behavior of alpha-helical membrane
proteins is critical for our understanding of signal transduction, and
may enable structure-based design of more specific and efficient
drugs.