Conformational Remodeling and Allosteric Regulation Underlying EGFR Mutant-Induced Activation: A Multi-Scale Analysis Using MD, MSMs, and NRI

Activating mutations in the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) are key oncogenic drivers across multiple cancers, yet the structural mechanisms by which these mutations promote persistent receptor activation remain elusive. Here, we investigate how three clinically relevant mutations-T790M, L858R, and the T790M_L858R double mutant-reshape EGFR's conformational ensemble and regulatory network architecture. Using multiscale molecular simulations and kinetic modeling, we show that these mutations, particularly in combination, enhance flexibility in the αC-helix and A-loop, favoring activation-competent states. Markov state modeling reveals a shift in equilibrium toward active macrostates and accelerated transitions between metastable conformations. To resolve the underlying coordination mechanism, we apply neural relational inference to reconstruct time-dependent interaction networks, uncovering the mutation-induced rewiring of allosteric pathways linking distant regulatory regions. This coupling of conformational redistribution with network remodeling provides a mechanistic rationale for sustained EGFR activation and suggests new opportunities for targeting dynamically organized allosteric circuits in therapeutic design.