scholarly journals Development of transferable coarse-grained models of amino acids

2020 ◽  
Vol 5 (3) ◽  
pp. 675-685 ◽  
Author(s):  
Olivia Conway ◽  
Yaxin An ◽  
Karteek K. Bejagam ◽  
Sanket A. Deshmukh
Keyword(s):  
Molecular Dynamics ◽  
Amino Acids ◽  
Md Simulations ◽  
Peptide Amphiphiles ◽  
Coarse Grained ◽  
Explicit Solvent

We have developed transferable coarse-grained (CG) models of the twenty standard amino acids, which can be used to perform molecular dynamics (MD) simulations of peptide amphiphiles (PAs) in the presence of explicit solvent.

scholarly journals On the Use of the Discrete Constant pH Molecular Dynamics to Describe the Conformational Space of Peptides

Polymers ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 99
Author(s):  
Cristian Privat ◽  
Sergio Madurga ◽  
Francesc Mas ◽  
Jaime Rubio-Martínez
Keyword(s):  
Molecular Dynamics ◽  
Amino Acids ◽  
Md Simulations ◽  
Point Of View ◽  
Conformational Space ◽  
Conformational Sampling ◽  
Protonation State ◽  
Constant Ph ◽  
Biochemical Systems ◽  
Constant Ph Molecular Dynamics

Solvent pH is an important property that defines the protonation state of the amino acids and, therefore, modulates the interactions and the conformational space of the biochemical systems. Generally, this thermodynamic variable is poorly considered in Molecular Dynamics (MD) simulations. Fortunately, this lack has been overcome by means of the Constant pH Molecular Dynamics (CPHMD) methods in the recent decades. Several studies have reported promising results from these approaches that include pH in simulations but focus on the prediction of the effective pKa of the amino acids. In this work, we want to shed some light on the CPHMD method and its implementation in the AMBER suitcase from a conformational point of view. To achieve this goal, we performed CPHMD and conventional MD (CMD) simulations of six protonatable amino acids in a blocked tripeptide structure to compare the conformational sampling and energy distributions of both methods. The results reveal strengths and weaknesses of the CPHMD method in the implementation of AMBER18 version. The change of the protonation state according to the chemical environment is presumably an improvement in the accuracy of the simulations. However, the simulations of the deprotonated forms are not consistent, which is related to an inaccurate assignment of the partial charges of the backbone atoms in the CPHMD residues. Therefore, we recommend the CPHMD methods of AMBER program but pointing out the need to compare structural properties with experimental data to bring reliability to the conformational sampling of the simulations.

scholarly journals Molecular Dynamics Scoring of Protein–Peptide Models Derived from Coarse-Grained Docking

Molecules ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 26 (11) ◽  
pp. 3293
Author(s):  
Mateusz Zalewski ◽  
Sebastian Kmiecik ◽  
Michał Koliński
Keyword(s):  
Molecular Dynamics ◽  
Geometry Optimization ◽  
Computational Prediction ◽  
Md Simulations ◽  
Coarse Grained ◽  
Ligand Interaction ◽  
Vast Number ◽  
Docking Simulations ◽  
Peptide Models ◽  
Peptide Complexes

One of the major challenges in the computational prediction of protein–peptide complexes is the scoring of predicted models. Usually, it is very difficult to find the most accurate solutions out of the vast number of sometimes very different and potentially plausible predictions. In this work, we tested the protocol for Molecular Dynamics (MD)-based scoring of protein–peptide complex models obtained from coarse-grained (CG) docking simulations. In the first step of the scoring procedure, all models generated by CABS-dock were reconstructed starting from their original C-alpha trace representations to all-atom (AA) structures. The second step included geometry optimization of the reconstructed complexes followed by model scoring based on receptor–ligand interaction energy estimated from short MD simulations in explicit water. We used two well-known AA MD force fields, CHARMM and AMBER, and a CG MARTINI force field. Scoring results for 66 different protein–peptide complexes show that the proposed MD-based scoring approach can be used to identify protein–peptide models of high accuracy. The results also indicate that the scoring accuracy may be significantly affected by the quality of the reconstructed protein receptor structures.

scholarly journals Antimicrobial action of the cationic peptide, chrysophsin-3: a coarse-grained molecular dynamics study

Soft Matter ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 14 (15) ◽  
pp. 2796-2807 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrea Catte ◽  
Mark R. Wilson ◽  
Martin Walker ◽  
Vasily S. Oganesyan
Keyword(s):  
Molecular Dynamics ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Md Simulations ◽  
Antimicrobial Action ◽  
Coarse Grained ◽  
Cationic Peptide ◽  
Coarse Grained Molecular Dynamics

Antimicrobial action of a cationic peptide is modelled by large scale MD simulations.

scholarly journals Computational Study of C-X-C Chemokine Receptor (CXCR)3 Binding with Its Natural Agonists Chemokine (C-X-C Motif) Ligand (CXCL)9, 10 and 11 and with Synthetic Antagonists: Insights of Receptor Activation towards Drug Design for Vitiligo

Molecules ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 25 (19) ◽  
pp. 4413
Author(s):  
Giovanny Aguilera-Durán ◽  
Antonio Romo-Mancillas
Keyword(s):  
Molecular Dynamics ◽  
Computational Study ◽  
Md Simulations ◽  
Receptor Activation ◽  
Activation Mechanism ◽  
Coarse Grained ◽  
Dimensional Structure ◽  
Cytotoxic Lymphocytes ◽  
Ligand Interaction ◽  
Α Subunit

Vitiligo is a hypopigmentary skin pathology resulting from the death of melanocytes due to the activity of CD8+ cytotoxic lymphocytes and overexpression of chemokines. These include CXCL9, CXCL10, and CXCL11 and its receptor CXCR3, both in peripheral cells of the immune system and in the skin of patients diagnosed with vitiligo. The three-dimensional structure of CXCR3 and CXCL9 has not been reported experimentally; thus, homology modeling and molecular dynamics could be useful for the study of this chemotaxis-promoter axis. In this work, a homology model of CXCR3 and CXCL9 and the structure of the CXCR3/Gαi/0βγ complex with post-translational modifications of CXCR3 are reported for the study of the interaction of chemokines with CXCR3 through all-atom (AA-MD) and coarse-grained molecular dynamics (CG-MD) simulations. AA-MD and CG-MD simulations showed the first activation step of the CXCR3 receptor with all chemokines and the second activation step in the CXCR3-CXCL10 complex through a decrease in the distance between the chemokine and the transmembrane region of CXCR3 and the separation of the βγ complex from the α subunit in the G-protein. Additionally, a general protein–ligand interaction model was calculated, based on known antagonists binding to CXCR3. These results contribute to understanding the activation mechanism of CXCR3 and the design of new molecules that inhibit chemokine binding or antagonize the receptor, provoking a decrease of chemotaxis caused by the CXCR3/chemokines axis.

scholarly journals Solvent-induced depletion interactions in multiparticle collision dynamic simulations

2019 ◽  
Vol 30 (10) ◽  
pp. 1941008 ◽  
Author(s):  
Martin Wagner ◽  
Marisol Ripoll
Keyword(s):  
Molecular Dynamics ◽  
Md Simulations ◽  
Coarse Grained ◽  
Simulation Methods ◽  
Mesoscale Simulation ◽  
Dynamic Simulations ◽  
Collision Dynamic ◽  
Versatile Tool ◽  
Depletion Interactions

Molecular-dynamics-coupled multiparticle collision dynamic (MPC-MD) simulations have emerged to be an efficient and versatile tool in the description of mesoscale colloidal dynamics. However, the compressibility of the coarse-grained fluid leads to this method being prone to spurious depletion interactions that may dominate the colloidal dynamics. In this paper, we review the existing methodology to deal with these interactions, establish and report depletion measurements, and present a method to avoid artificial depletion in mesoscale simulation methods.

Molecular Dynamics Simulations of Diffusion of O2 and N2 Penetrants in Polydimethylsiloxane-Based Nanocomposites

2012 ◽  
Vol 134 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Douglas E. Spearot ◽  
Alex Sudibjo ◽  
Varun Ullal ◽  
Adam Huang
Keyword(s):  
Molecular Dynamics ◽  
Polymer Composites ◽  
Diffusion Coefficients ◽  
Metal Particle ◽  
Interatomic Potential ◽  
Md Simulations ◽  
Coarse Grained ◽  
Cu Nanoparticles ◽  
Cu Nanoparticle ◽  
Nanoparticle Inclusions

Recently, metal particle polymer composites have been proposed as sensing materials for micro corrosion sensors. To design the sensors, a detailed understanding of diffusion through metal particle polymer composites is necessary. Accordingly, in this work molecular dynamics (MD) simulations are used to study the diffusion of O2 and N2 penetrants in metal particle polymer nanocomposites composed of an uncross-linked polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) matrix with Cu nanoparticle inclusions. PDMS is modeled using a hybrid interatomic potential with explicit treatment of Si and O atoms along the chain backbone and coarse-grained methyl side groups. In most models examined in this work, MD simulations show that diffusion coefficients of O2 and N2 molecules in PDMS-based nanocomposites are lower than that in pure PDMS. Nanoparticle inclusions act primarily as geometric obstacles for the diffusion of atmospheric penetrants, reducing the available porosity necessary for diffusion, with instances of O2 and N2 molecule trapping also observed at or near the PDMS/Cu nanoparticle interfaces. In models with the smallest gap between Cu nanoparticles, MD simulations show that O2 and N2 diffusion coefficients are higher than that in pure PDMS at the lowest temperatures studied. This is due to PDMS chain confinement at low temperatures in the presence of the Cu nanoparticles, which induces low-density regions within the PDMS matrix. MD simulations show that the role of temperature on diffusion can be modeled using the Williams–Landel–Ferry equation, with parameters influenced by nanoparticle content and spacing.

Effective interaction between small unilamellar vesicles as probed by coarse-grained molecular dynamics simulations

2014 ◽  
Vol 86 (2) ◽  
pp. 215-222 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wataru Shinoda ◽  
Michael L. Klein
Keyword(s):  
Molecular Dynamics ◽  
Free Energy ◽  
Effective Interaction ◽  
Md Simulations ◽  
Coarse Grained ◽  
Repulsive Interaction ◽  
Spontaneous Curvature ◽  
Unilamellar Vesicles ◽  
Small Unilamellar Vesicles ◽  
Dynamics Simulations

Abstract A series of molecular dynamics (MD) simulations has been undertaken to investigate the effective interaction between vesicles including PC (phosphatidylcholine) and PE (phosphatidylethanolamine) lipids using the Shinoda–DeVane–Klein coarse-grained force field. No signatures of fusion were detected during MD simulations employing two apposed unilamellar vesicles, each composed of 1512 lipid molecules. Association free energy of the two stable vesicles depends on the lipid composition. The two PC vesicles exhibit a purely repulsive interaction with each other, whereas two PE vesicles show a free energy gain at the contact. A mixed PC/PE (1:1) vesicle shows a higher flexibility having a lower energy barrier on the deformation, which is caused by lipid sorting within each leaflet of the membranes. With a preformed channel or stalk between proximal membranes, PE molecules contribute to stabilize the stalk. The results suggest that the lipid components forming the membrane with a negative spontaneous curvature contribute to stabilize the stalk between two vesicles in contact.

scholarly journals Binding of Ca2+-Independent C2 Domains to Lipid Membranes: a Multi-Scale Molecular Dynamics Study

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andreas Haahr Larsen ◽  
Mark S.P. Sansom
Keyword(s):  
Molecular Dynamics ◽  
Lipid Bilayers ◽  
Md Simulations ◽  
Multiscale Simulation ◽  
Coarse Grained ◽  
Type I ◽  
Type Ii ◽  
Binding Modes ◽  
C2 Domains ◽  
Anionic Lipids

AbstractC2 domains facilitate protein-lipid interaction in cellular recognition and signalling processes. They possess a β-sandwich structure, with either type I or type II topology. C2 domains can interact with anionic lipid bilayers in either a Ca2+-dependent or a Ca2+-independent manner. The mechanism of recognition of anionic lipids by Ca2+-independent C2 domains is incompletely understood. We have used molecular dynamics (MD) simulations to explore the membrane interactions of six Ca2+– independent C2 domains, from KIBRA, PI3KC2α, RIM2, PTEN, SHIP2, and Smurf2. In coarse grained MD simulations these C2 domains bound to lipid bilayers, forming transient interactions with zwitterionic (phosphatidylcholine, PC) bilayers compared to long lived interactions with anionic bilayers also containing either phosphatidylserine (PS) or PS and phosphatidylinositol bisphosphate (PIP2). Type I C2 domains bound non-canonically via the front, back or side of the β sandwich, whereas type II C2 domains bound canonically, via the top loops (as is typically the case for Ca2+-dependent C2 domains). C2 domains interacted strongly (up to 120 kJ/mol) with membranes containing PIP2 causing the bound anionic lipids to clustered around the protein. The C2 domains bound less strongly to anionic membranes without PIP2 (<50 kJ/mol), and most weakly to neutral membranes (<33 kJ/mol). Productive binding modes were identified and further analysed in atomistic simulations. For PTEN and SHIP2, CG simulations were also performed of the intact enzymes (i.e. phosphatase domain plus C2 domain) with PIP2-contating bilayers and the roles of the two domains in membrane localization were compared. From a methodological perspective, these studies establish a multiscale simulation protocol for studying membrane binding/recognition proteins, capable of revealing binding modes alongside details of lipid binding affinity and specificity.

Cholesterol solubility limit in lipid membranes probed by small angle neutron scattering and MD simulations

Soft Matter ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 10 (46) ◽  
pp. 9313-9317 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sumit Garg ◽  
Francisco Castro-Roman ◽  
Lionel Porcar ◽  
Paul Butler ◽  
Pedro Jesus Bautista ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Molecular Dynamics ◽  
Neutron Scattering ◽  
Small Angle ◽  
Lipid Membranes ◽  
Small Angle Neutron Scattering ◽  
Md Simulations ◽  
Solubility Limit ◽  
Coarse Grained ◽  
Small Unilamellar Vesicles ◽  
Cholesterol Solubility

The solubility limits of cholesterol in small unilamellar vesicles made of POPS and POPC were probed using Small Angle Neutron Scattering (SANS) and coarse grained (CG) molecular dynamics (MD) simulations.

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