Role of Competitive PEO−Water and Water−Water Hydrogen Bonding in Aqueous Solution PEO Behavior

2002 ◽  
Vol 35 (3) ◽  
pp. 987-1001 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elena E. Dormidontova
Keyword(s):  
Aqueous Solution ◽  
Hydrogen Bonding ◽  
Water Hydrogen

scholarly journals Simulating Absorption Spectra of Flavonoids in Aqueous Solution: A Polarizable QM/MM Study

Molecules ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 25 (24) ◽  
pp. 5853
Author(s):  
Sulejman Skoko ◽  
Matteo Ambrosetti ◽  
Tommaso Giovannini ◽  
Chiara Cappelli
Keyword(s):  
Molecular Dynamics ◽  
Aqueous Solution ◽  
Hydrogen Bonding ◽  
Force Field ◽  
Absorption Spectra ◽  
Computational Study ◽  
Md Simulations ◽  
Quantum Mechanical ◽  
Hydrogen Bonding Interactions

We present a detailed computational study of the UV/Vis spectra of four relevant flavonoids in aqueous solution, namely luteolin, kaempferol, quercetin, and myricetin. The absorption spectra are simulated by exploiting a fully polarizable quantum mechanical (QM)/molecular mechanics (MM) model, based on the fluctuating charge (FQ) force field. Such a model is coupled with configurational sampling obtained by performing classical molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. The calculated QM/FQ spectra are compared with the experiments. We show that an accurate reproduction of the UV/Vis spectra of the selected flavonoids can be obtained by appropriately taking into account the role of configurational sampling, polarization, and hydrogen bonding interactions.

scholarly journals Deciphering the Role of π-Interactions in Polyelectrolyte Complexes Using Rationally Designed Peptides

Polymers ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (13) ◽  
pp. 2074
Author(s):  
Sara Tabandeh ◽  
Cristina Elisabeth Lemus ◽  
Lorraine Leon
Keyword(s):  
Hydrogen Bonding ◽  
Phase Separation ◽  
Liquid Phase ◽  
Charge Density ◽  
Secondary Structures ◽  
Liquid Phase Separation ◽  
Polyelectrolyte Complexes ◽  
Π Interactions ◽  
Liquid Liquid Phase Separation

Electrostatic interactions, and specifically π-interactions play a significant role in the liquid-liquid phase separation of proteins and formation of membraneless organelles/or biological condensates. Sequence patterning of peptides allows creating protein-like structures and controlling the chemistry and interactions of the mimetic molecules. A library of oppositely charged polypeptides was designed and synthesized to investigate the role of π-interactions on phase separation and secondary structures of polyelectrolyte complexes. Phenylalanine was chosen as the π-containing residue and was used together with lysine or glutamic acid in the design of positively or negatively charged sequences. The effect of charge density and also the substitution of fluorine on the phenylalanine ring, known to disrupt π-interactions, were investigated. Characterization analysis using MALDI-TOF mass spectroscopy, H NMR, and circular dichroism (CD) confirmed the molecular structure and chiral pattern of peptide sequences. Despite an alternating sequence of chirality previously shown to promote liquid-liquid phase separation, complexes appeared as solid precipitates, suggesting strong interactions between the sequence pairs. The secondary structures of sequence pairs showed the formation of hydrogen-bonded structures with a β-sheet signal in FTIR spectroscopy. The presence of fluorine decreased hydrogen bonding due to its inhibitory effect on π-interactions. π-interactions resulted in enhanced stability of complexes against salt, and higher critical salt concentrations for complexes with more π-containing amino acids. Furthermore, UV-vis spectroscopy showed that sequences containing π-interactions and increased charge density encapsulated a small charged molecule with π-bonds with high efficiency. These findings highlight the interplay between ionic, hydrophobic, hydrogen bonding, and π-interactions in polyelectrolyte complex formation and enhance our understanding of phase separation phenomena in protein-like structures.

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