Sub-THz specific relaxation times of hydrogen bond oscillations in E.coli thioredoxin. Molecular dynamics and statistical analysis.

Hydrogen bonds (H-bonds) in biological macromolecules are important for the molecular structure and functions. Since interactions via hydrogen bonds are weaker than covalent bonds, it can be expected that atomic movements involving H-bonds have low frequency vibrational modes. Sub-Terahertz (sub-THz) vibrational spectroscopy that combines measurements with molecular dynamics (MD) computational prediction has been demonstrated as a promising approach for biological molecule characterization.

Molecular dynamics modeling of the sub-THz vibrational absorption of thioredoxin from E. coli.

Sub-terahertz (THz) vibrational modes of the protein thioredoxin in a water environment were simulated using molecular dynamics (MD) in order to find the conditions needed for simulation convergence, improve the correlation between experimental and simulated absorption frequencies, and ultimately enhance the predictive capabilities of computational modeling. Thioredoxin from E. coli was used as a model molecule for protocol development and to optimize the simulation parameters.

Presynaptic Ca2+ buffers control the strength of a fast post-tetanic hyperpolarization mediated by the alpha3 Na(+)/K(+)-ATPase.

The excitability of CNS presynaptic terminals after a tetanic burst of action potentials is important for synaptic plasticity. The mechanisms that regulate excitability, however, are not well understood. Using direct recordings from the rat calyx of Held terminal, we found that a fast Na(+)/K(+)-ATPase (NKA)-mediated post-tetanic hyperpolarization (PTH) controls the probability and precision of subsequent firing.