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A amelogénese imperfeita é uma patologia hereditária que afeta a formação do esmalte dentário, na qual mutações no gene MMP20 foram identificadas como uma das principais causas. Esta dissertação investiga o impacto de oito variantes patogénicas de MMP20 sobre a estrutura, a dinâmica e o potencial funcional da proteína, utilizando abordagens de modelagem molecular, dinâmica molecular (MD) e docking in silico. Após a modelagem tridimensional das formas selvagem e mutadas da proteína, foram realizadas simulações de dinâmica molecular de 100 ns (com 3 réplicas por sistema). As análises estruturais (RMSD, RMSF, SASA, pontes de hidrogénio) permitiram identificar perturbações variadas conforme a mutação, afetando a estabilidade global, a flexibilidade local e a geometria do sítio catalítico. Uma fase de docking molecular, envolvendo nove ligantes inibidores de MMPs, foi então conduzida para explorar a acessibilidade funcional das formas mutadas. A análise visual dos complexos revelou que algumas mutações, como E209Q, Q376X e S237Y, permitem a manutenção de uma ligação cataliticamente relevante, apesar das alterações estruturais. Outras, como H226Q e H204R, provocam uma desorganização do centro catalítico, comprometendo as interações com os inibidores. Este trabalho destaca o potencial de resiliência ou de fragilidade local do sítio ativo, dependendo da natureza da mutação, e sublinha a importância de abordagens estruturais in silico para a estratificação de variantes patogénicas. Os resultados obtidos abrem perspetivas para o reposicionamento de ligantes ou para uma personalização terapêutica nas formas genéticas de amelogénese imperfeita associadas ao gene MMP20.
Amelogenesis imperfecta is a hereditary disorder affecting enamel formation, with MMP20 gene mutations recognized as a major molecular cause. This thesis investigates the structural, dynamic, and functional impact of eight pathogenic MMP20 variants using molecular modeling, molecular dynamics (MD) simulations, and in silico docking approaches. Three-dimensional models of both wild-type and mutated MMP20 were generated, followed by 100-ns MD simulations (in triplicate) to assess the impact of each mutation. Structural analyses (RMSD, RMSF, SASA, hydrogen bonds) revealed divergent effects depending on the mutation, altering global stability, local flexibility, and catalytic site geometry. A molecular docking phase involving nine MMP inhibitor ligands was conducted to explore the functional accessibility of the mutated forms. Visual inspection of the complexes revealed that certain mutations, such as E209Q, Q376X, and S237Y, allow the maintenance of catalytically relevant binding despite structural alterations. In contrast, mutations like H226Q and H204R lead to disorganization of the catalytic center, compromising interactions with the inhibitors. This work highlights the structural resilience or vulnerability of the active site depending on the mutation and demonstrates the value of computational approaches to functionally stratify pathogenic variants. These findings pave the way for ligand repurposing strategies and mutation-specific therapeutic targeting in genetic forms of amelogenesis imperfecta linked to MMP20.
Amelogenesis imperfecta is a hereditary disorder affecting enamel formation, with MMP20 gene mutations recognized as a major molecular cause. This thesis investigates the structural, dynamic, and functional impact of eight pathogenic MMP20 variants using molecular modeling, molecular dynamics (MD) simulations, and in silico docking approaches. Three-dimensional models of both wild-type and mutated MMP20 were generated, followed by 100-ns MD simulations (in triplicate) to assess the impact of each mutation. Structural analyses (RMSD, RMSF, SASA, hydrogen bonds) revealed divergent effects depending on the mutation, altering global stability, local flexibility, and catalytic site geometry. A molecular docking phase involving nine MMP inhibitor ligands was conducted to explore the functional accessibility of the mutated forms. Visual inspection of the complexes revealed that certain mutations, such as E209Q, Q376X, and S237Y, allow the maintenance of catalytically relevant binding despite structural alterations. In contrast, mutations like H226Q and H204R lead to disorganization of the catalytic center, compromising interactions with the inhibitors. This work highlights the structural resilience or vulnerability of the active site depending on the mutation and demonstrates the value of computational approaches to functionally stratify pathogenic variants. These findings pave the way for ligand repurposing strategies and mutation-specific therapeutic targeting in genetic forms of amelogenesis imperfecta linked to MMP20.
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Palavras-chave
Amelogénese imperfeita MMP20 Mutação patogénica Dinâmica molecular Docking molecular Amelogenesis imperfecta Pathogenic mutation Molecular dynamics Molecular docking
