An accurate representation of solute-water interactions is necessary for molecular dynamics simulations of biomolecules that reside in aqueous environments. Modern force fields and advanced water models describe solute-solute and water-water interactions reasonably accurately but have known shortcomings in describing solute-water interactions, demonstrated by the large differences between calculated and experimental solvation free energies across a range of peptide and drug chemistries. In this work, we introduce a method for optimizing solute-water van der Waals interactions to reproduce experimental solvation free energy data and apply it to the optimization of a fixed charge force field (AMBER ff99SB/GAFF) and advanced water model (TIP4P-Ew). We show that, with these optimizations, the combination of AMBER ff99SB/GAFF and TIP4P-Ew is able to reproduce the solvation free energies of a variety of biologically relevant small molecules to within 1.0 k(B)T. We further validate these optimizations by examining the aggregation propensities of dipeptide-water solutions, the conformational preferences of short disordered peptides, and the native state stability and dynamics of a folded protein.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/jp2118373 | DOI Listing |
J Comput Chem
January 2025
Department of Mechanical Engineering, Universidad Técnica Federico Santa María, Valparaíso, Chile.
The standard Poisson-Boltzmann (PB) model for molecular electrostatics assumes a sharp variation of the permittivity and salt concentration along the solute-solvent interface. The discontinuous field parameters are not only difficult numerically, but also are not a realistic physical picture, as it forces the dielectric constant and ionic strength of bulk in the near-solute region. An alternative to alleviate some of these issues is to represent the molecular surface as a diffuse interface, however, this also presents challenges.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAngew Chem Int Ed Engl
January 2025
Nanjing University, College of Engineering and Applied Sciences, No. 163 Xianlin Avenue, Qixia District, Nanjing, Nanjing, CHINA.
Electrolyte engineering has emerged as an effective strategy for stabilizing Zn-metal anodes. However, a single solute or solvent additive is far from sufficient to meet the requirements for electrolyte cycling stability. Here, we report a new-type high-entropy electrolyte composed of equal molar amounts of Zn(OTf)2 and LiOTf, along with equal volumes of H2O, triethyl phosphate, and dimethyl sulfoxide, which enhances electrolyte stability by increasing solvation entropy.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBioinform Adv
December 2024
Structural and Computational Biology Group, Nutritional and Industrial Biochemistry Research Unit, Department of Biochemistry, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan 200005, Nigeria.
Motivation: Investigating novel drug-target interactions is crucial for expanding the chemical space of emerging therapeutic targets in human diseases. Herein, we explored the interactions of dipeptidyl peptidase-4 and protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B with selected terpenoids from African antidiabetic plants.
Results: Using molecular docking, molecular dynamics simulations, molecular mechanics with generalized Born and surface area solvation-free energy, and density functional theory analyses, the study revealed dipeptidyl peptidase-4 as a promising target.
Understanding how vitamins and fertilizers interact in aquatic environments is crucial for managing water quality, protecting aquatic life, and promoting sustainable agricultural practices. The molecular interactions between nicotinamide (NA) and two fertilizers, potassium chloride (KCl) and diammonium hydrogen phosphate (DAP), were examined by density () and viscosity () measurements in order to investigate and analyze the solvation behavior that occurs in the ternary solutions (NA + KCl/DAP + water). All of these investigations were conducted at temperatures ranging from 293.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFInorg Chem
January 2025
Department of Chemistry and Nuclear Science & Engineering Center, Colorado School of Mines, Golden, Colorado 80401, United States.
Three Sm(II) dibenzo-24-crown-8 (db24c8) complexes were synthesized in anhydrous, air-free conditions via the reaction of SmI with db24c8 and tetrabutylammonium tetraphenylborate ([TBA][BPh]; where needed) in acetonitrile (CHCN), dimethoxyethane (DME), and tetrahydrofuran (THF) to yield [Sm(db24c8)(CHCN)][BPh][I]·CHCN, [Sm(db24c8)(DME)]I, and [Sm(db24c8)(THF)]I, respectively. In each case, a 10-coordinate, staggered dodecahedral (2:6:2) environment is formed around the Sm center that is completed by either two solvent molecules (CHCN or THF) or one bidentate solvent molecule (DME). Inner-sphere solvent molecules can be excluded by reacting SmI with db24c8 in 1:3 THF:toluene to yield Sm(db24c8)I.
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