Title

Insights from the Molecular Modelling and Docking Analysis of AIF-NLS complex to infer Nuclear Translocation of the Protein

Authors

Akash Srivaths, Shyam Ramanathan, Seethalakshmi Sakthivel, SKM Habeeb*

Affiliation

¹Department of Genetic Engineering, School of Bioengineering, SRM University, Kattankulathur, Chennai – 603203;

Email

habeeb_skm@yahoo.co.in; habeeb.m@ktr.srmuniv.ac.in; skmhabeeb@gmail.com;

Article Type

Hypothesis

Date

Received February 20, 2018; Revised March 12, 2018; Accepted March 13, 2018; Published March 31, 2018

Apoptosis Inducing Factor protein has a dual role depending on its localization in mitochondrion (energy production) and nucleus (induces apoptosis). Cell damage transports this protein to nucleus which otherwise favors mitochondrion. The alteration of Nuclear Localisation Signal tags could aid nuclear translocation. In this study, apoptosis inducing factor protein (AIF) was conjugated with strong NLS tags and its binding affinity with Importin was studied using in silico approaches such as molecular modeling and docking. This aims to improve the docking affinity of the AIF-Importin complex thus allowing for nuclear translocation, in order to induce caspase-independent apoptosis of the cell.

Keywords

Apoptosis Inducing Factor (Mitochondrial) 1 (AIFM1), Apoptosis Inducing Factor Protein (AIF), Nuclear Localization Signal (NLS), Mitochondrial Localization Signal (MLS), Threading, Protein – Protein Interaction & Importin.

Citation

Srivaths et al. Bioinformation 14(3): 132-139 (2018)

Edited by

P Kangueane

ISSN

0973-2063

Publisher

Biomedical Informatics

License

This is an Open Access article which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly credited. This is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License.