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Pfaendner C, Korn V, Gogoi P, Unger B, Pluhackova K. ART-SM: Boosting Fragment-Based Backmapping by Machine Learning. J Chem Theory Comput 2025; 21:4151-4166. [PMID: 40184371 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jctc.5c00189] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/06/2025]
Abstract
In sequential multiscale molecular dynamics simulations, which advantageously combine the increased sampling and dynamics at coarse-grained resolution with the higher accuracy of atomistic simulations, the resolution is altered over time. While coarse-graining is straightforward once the mapping between atomistic and coarse-grained resolution is defined, reintroducing the atomistic details is still a nontrivial process called backmapping. Here, we present ART-SM, a fragment-based backmapping framework that learns from atomistic simulation data to seamlessly switch from coarse-grained to atomistic resolution. ART-SM requires minimal user input and goes beyond state-of-the-art fragment-based approaches by selecting from multiple conformations per fragment via machine learning to simultaneously reflect the coarse-grained structure and the Boltzmann distribution. Additionally, we introduce a novel refinement step to connect individual fragments by optimizing specific bonds, angles, and dihedral angles in the backmapping process. We demonstrate that our algorithm accurately restores the atomistic bond length, angle, and dihedral angle distributions for various small and linear molecules from Martini coarse-grained beads and that the resulting high-resolution structures are representative of the input coarse-grained conformations. Moreover, the reconstruction of the TIP3P water model is fast and robust, and we demonstrate that ART-SM can be applied to larger linear molecules as well. To illustrate the efficiency of the local and autoregressive approach of ART-SM, we simulated a large realistic system containing the surfactants TAPB and SDS in solution using the Martini3 force field. The self-assembled micelles of various shapes were backmapped with ART-SM after training on only short atomistic simulations of a single water-solvated SDS or TAPB molecule. Together, these results indicate the potential for the method to be extended to more complex molecules such as lipids, proteins, macromolecules, and materials in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christian Pfaendner
- Stuttgart Center for Simulation Science, Cluster of Excellence EXC 2075, University of Stuttgart, Universitätsstr. 32, 70569 Stuttgart, Germany
- Artificial Intelligence Software Academy, University of Stuttgart, 70569 Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Viktoria Korn
- Stuttgart Center for Simulation Science, Cluster of Excellence EXC 2075, University of Stuttgart, Universitätsstr. 32, 70569 Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Pritom Gogoi
- Stuttgart Center for Simulation Science, Cluster of Excellence EXC 2075, University of Stuttgart, Universitätsstr. 32, 70569 Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Benjamin Unger
- Stuttgart Center for Simulation Science, Cluster of Excellence EXC 2075, University of Stuttgart, Universitätsstr. 32, 70569 Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Kristyna Pluhackova
- Stuttgart Center for Simulation Science, Cluster of Excellence EXC 2075, University of Stuttgart, Universitätsstr. 32, 70569 Stuttgart, Germany
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2
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Grünewald F, Seute L, Alessandri R, König M, Kroon PC. CGsmiles: A Versatile Line Notation for Molecular Representations across Multiple Resolutions. J Chem Inf Model 2025; 65:3405-3419. [PMID: 40126413 PMCID: PMC12005186 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jcim.5c00064] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2025] [Revised: 03/06/2025] [Accepted: 03/10/2025] [Indexed: 03/25/2025]
Abstract
Coarse-grained (CG) models simplify molecular representations by grouping multiple atoms into effective particles, enabling faster simulations and reducing the chemical compound space compared to atomistic methods. Additionally, models with chemical specificity, such as Martini, may extrapolate to cases where experimental data is scarce, making CG methods highly promising for high-throughput (HT) screenings and chemical space exploration. Yet no rigorous data formats exist for the crucial aspect of describing how the atoms are grouped (i.e., the mapping). As CG models advance toward true HT capabilities, the lack of mappings and indexing capabilities for the growing number of CG molecules poses a significant barrier. To address this, we introduce CGsmiles, a versatile line notation inspired by the popular Simplified Molecular Input Line Entry System (SMILES) and BigSMILES. CGsmiles encodes the molecular graph and particle (atom) properties independent of their resolution and incorporates a framework that allows seamless conversion between coarse- and fine-grained resolutions. By specifying fragments that describe how each particle is represented at the next finer resolution (e.g., CG particles to atoms), CGsmiles can represent multiple resolutions and their hierarchical relationships in a single string. In this paper, we present the CGSmiles syntax and analyze a benchmark set of 407 molecules from the Martini force field. We highlight key features missing in existing notations that are essential for accurately describing CG models. To demonstrate the utility of CGsmiles beyond simulations, we construct two simple machine-learning models for predicting partition coefficients, both trained on CGsmiles-indexed data and leveraging information from both CG and atomistic resolutions. Finally, we briefly discuss the applicability of CGsmiles to polymers, which particularly benefit from the multiresolution nature of the notation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fabian Grünewald
- Heidelberg
Institute for Theoretical Studies (HITS), Schloss-Wolfsbrunnenweg 35, 69118 Heidelberg, Germany
- Interdisciplinary
Center for Scientific Computing, Heidelberg
University, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Leif Seute
- Heidelberg
Institute for Theoretical Studies (HITS), Schloss-Wolfsbrunnenweg 35, 69118 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Riccardo Alessandri
- Department
of Chemical Engineering, KU Leuven, Celestijnenlaan 200J, 3001 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Melanie König
- Heidelberg
University Biochemistry Center, Im Neuenheimer Feld 328, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Peter C. Kroon
- Hanze
University of Applied Sciences Groningen, Zernikeplein 7, 9747
AS Groningen, The
Netherlands
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3
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Singh SK, Noroozi A, Soldera A. Coarse-grained simulation of water: A comparative study and overview. J Chem Phys 2025; 162:144501. [PMID: 40197576 DOI: 10.1063/5.0249333] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2024] [Accepted: 03/20/2025] [Indexed: 04/10/2025] Open
Abstract
In spite of the tremendous increase in computational power over the last few decades, the problem of simulating atomistic systems containing large amounts of water molecules over longer lengths and time scales still remains. In this respect, the coarse-grained (CG) force field reduces the computational cost and, therefore, allows simulations of larger systems for longer times. However, the specific scope of the different CG water models is more limited compared to their atomistic counterparts. In this context, we conducted a comparative study on the molecular physical structure, thermodynamic, and dynamic properties of bulk water systems using six distinct CG water models and all-atom (AA) simulations. The six CG simulation procedures involved modeling with three variants of the water model coming from the MARTINI force field, one from the SPICA force field, and the two Iterative Boltzmann Inversion (IBI) derived potentials from the AA simulations. The AA simulations have been performed using the SPC/E and TIP4P force fields. The IBI models, namely SPC/E-IBI and TIP4P-IBI, depict the structural features in close agreement with the atomistic samples. The explicit number of water molecules in the first coordination shell for the three MARTINI models and the SPICA force field is in excellent agreement with the SPC/E and TIP4P values. The ensuing simulated densities for the various water models align significantly with the literature data, indicating the reliability of our approach. The SPC/E and SPICA models stand out in predicting the enthalpy of vaporization among the all-atom and CG force fields, respectively. The two all-atom models and their IBI equivalents are better at representing the isobaric specific heat capacity compared to the other models. The isothermal compressibility is reproduced comprehensively by the SPC/E force field followed by TIP4P, while SPICA is the better choice within the CG models. With respect to the dynamics of the system, the diffusion coefficient of the SPICA force field is in perfect agreement with the experimental data, even better than the atomistic samples. The overall scores of the different models, indicative of their relative performances compared to the other models, have also been computed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sanjeet Kumar Singh
- Department of Chemistry, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Quebec J1K2R1, Canada
| | - Ali Noroozi
- Department of Chemistry, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Quebec J1K2R1, Canada
| | - Armand Soldera
- Department of Chemistry, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Quebec J1K2R1, Canada
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4
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Sun B, Gao W, Yu X, Zhang C, Du H, Luo Y, Zhu J, Yang P, Zhang M. Charge regulated pH/NIR dual responsive nanoplatforms centered on cuproptosis for enhanced cancer theranostics. Biomaterials 2025; 315:122907. [PMID: 39476451 DOI: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2024.122907] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2024] [Revised: 09/23/2024] [Accepted: 10/20/2024] [Indexed: 12/09/2024]
Abstract
Multifunctional nanoplatforms capable of simultaneously executing multimodal therapy and imaging functions are of great potentials for cancer theranostics. We present an elegantly designed, easy-to-fabricate poly(acrylic acid)/mesoporous calcium phosphate/mesoporous copper phosphate nanosphere (PAA/mCaP/mCuP NS) with outstanding pH/NIR-sensitive multimodal-synergic anti-tumor effects. Optimal porous PAA NS scaffolds were prepared at room temperature by balancing the intra-PAA polymer and polymer-solvents Lennard-Jones potentials in a water:isopropyl alcohol (IPA) mix-solvent. Subsequent sponging of Ca2+ and Cu2+, and adsorption of PO43- to the PAA template were achieved through exquisite electrostatic interactions among ions and the ionizable PAA side-chain in an aqueous environment. This forms the basis for the tumor microenvironment pH-triggered release of Cu2+ to induce cuproptosis, as well as the photothermal effect originating from CuP, while Ca2+ can enhance the nanoplatform's biocompatibility and can damage mitochondria when overloaded. Lastly, PAA/mCaP/mCuP NSs still exhibit high drug loading efficiency for doxorubicin (DOX), enabling chemotherapy. Satisfactory anti-tumor effects of these modalities, along with their synergistic effects, were verified both in vitro and in vivo, with the NSs demonstrating good biodegradation in the latter. The fabricated NS itself holds great promise as an anti-tumor nanomedicine, and the thorough mechanical insights into NS formation may inspire the design of next-generation multifunctional nanoplatforms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bin Sun
- State Key Laboratory of Frigid Zone Cardiovascular Diseases (SKLFZCD), College of Pharmacy, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
| | - Wei Gao
- State Key Laboratory of Frigid Zone Cardiovascular Diseases (SKLFZCD), College of Pharmacy, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
| | - Xinyuan Yu
- State Key Laboratory of Frigid Zone Cardiovascular Diseases (SKLFZCD), College of Pharmacy, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
| | - Chunpeng Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Frigid Zone Cardiovascular Diseases (SKLFZCD), College of Pharmacy, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
| | - Haoyang Du
- State Key Laboratory of Frigid Zone Cardiovascular Diseases (SKLFZCD), College of Pharmacy, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
| | - Yakun Luo
- National Health Commission Key Laboratory of Molecular Probes and Targeted Diagnosis and Therapy, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
| | - Jiuxin Zhu
- State Key Laboratory of Frigid Zone Cardiovascular Diseases (SKLFZCD), College of Pharmacy, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
| | - Piaoping Yang
- Key Laboratory of Superlight Materials and Surface Technology, Ministry of Education, College of Materials Science and Chemical Engineering, Harbin Engineering University, Harbin, China.
| | - Manjie Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Frigid Zone Cardiovascular Diseases (SKLFZCD), College of Pharmacy, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China; Key Laboratory of Superlight Materials and Surface Technology, Ministry of Education, College of Materials Science and Chemical Engineering, Harbin Engineering University, Harbin, China.
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5
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Rho S, Koh H, Yu JW, Koo HB, Kim S, Jung JY, Jung E, Nam C, Lee JY, Jeon K, Chang JB, Kim DN, Lee WB. Elasticity of Swollen and Folded Polyacrylamide Hydrogel Using the MARTINI Coarse-Grained Model. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2025; 17:5340-5351. [PMID: 39778919 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.4c18162] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/11/2025]
Abstract
One of the key advantages of using a hydrogel is its superb control over elasticity obtained through variations of constituent polymer and water. The underlying molecular nature of a hydrogel is a fundamental origin of hydrogel mechanics. In this article, we report a Polyacrylamide (PAAm)-based hydrogel model using the MARTINI coarse-grained (CG) force field. The MARTINI hydrogel is molecularly developed through Iterative Boltzmann inversion (IBI) using all-atom molecular dynamics (AAMD), and its quality is evaluated through the experimental realization of the target hydrogel. The developed model offers a mechanically high-fidelity CG hydrogel that can access large-scale water-containing hydrogel behavior, which is difficult to explore through AAMD in practical time. With the modeled hydrogel, we reveal that the polymer conformation modulates the elasticity of the hydrogel from a folded state to a swollen state, confirmed by the Panyukov model. The results provide a robust bridge for linking the polymer conformations and alignment to their bulk deformation, enabling the multifaceted and material-specific predictions required for hydrogel applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seunghyok Rho
- School of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Seoul National University, 1 Gwanak-ro, Gwanak-gu, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea
| | - Heeyuen Koh
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Seoul National University, 1 Gwanak-ro, Gwanak-gu, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea
| | - Ji Woong Yu
- Center for AI and Natural Sciences, Korea Institute for Advanced Study, Seoul 02455, Republic of Korea
| | - Hye Been Koo
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), Daejeon 34141, Republic of Korea
| | - Sebin Kim
- School of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Seoul National University, 1 Gwanak-ro, Gwanak-gu, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea
| | - Je-Yeon Jung
- School of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Seoul National University, 1 Gwanak-ro, Gwanak-gu, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea
| | - EunYeong Jung
- School of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Seoul National University, 1 Gwanak-ro, Gwanak-gu, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea
| | - Chongyong Nam
- School of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Seoul National University, 1 Gwanak-ro, Gwanak-gu, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea
| | - Jae Young Lee
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Ajou University, 206 World cup-ro, Yeongtong-gu, Suwon 16499, Republic of Korea
| | - Kyounghwa Jeon
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Seoul National University, 1 Gwanak-ro, Gwanak-gu, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea
| | - Jae-Byum Chang
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), Daejeon 34141, Republic of Korea
| | - Do-Nyun Kim
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Seoul National University, 1 Gwanak-ro, Gwanak-gu, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea
| | - Won Bo Lee
- School of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Seoul National University, 1 Gwanak-ro, Gwanak-gu, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea
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6
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Bellussi FM, Ricci M, Fasano M, Roscioni OM. Mesoscopic Modeling of Bio-Compatible PLGA Polymers with Coarse-Grained Molecular Dynamics Simulations. J Phys Chem B 2025. [PMID: 39772790 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcb.4c07518] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/11/2025]
Abstract
A challenging topic in materials engineering is the development of numerical models that can accurately predict material properties with atomistic accuracy, matching the scale and level of detail achieved by experiments. In this regard, coarse-grained (CG) molecular dynamics (MD) simulations are a popular method for achieving this goal. Despite the efforts of the scientific community, a reliable CG model with quasi-atomistic accuracy has not yet been fully achieved for the design and prototyping of materials, especially polymers. In this paper, we describe a CG model for polymers, focusing on the biocompatible poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA), based on a general parametrization strategy with a potentially broader field of applications. In this model, polymers are represented with finite-size ellipsoids, short-range interactions are accounted for with the generalized Gay-Berne potential, while electrostatic and long-range interactions are accounted for with point charges within the ellipsoids. The model was validated against its atomistic counterpart, obtained through a back-mapping process, by comparing physical properties such as glass transition temperature, thermal conductivity, and elastic moduli. We observed quantitative agreement between the atomistic and CG representations, thus opening up the possibility of adopting the proposed model to expand the domain size of typical MD simulations to dimensions comparable to those of experimental setups.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Matteo Fasano
- Department of Energy, Politecnico di Torino, Corso Duca degli Abruzzi 24, 10129 Torino, Italy
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7
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Zhao M, Lopes LJS, Sahni H, Yadav A, Do HN, Reddy T, López CA, Neale C, Gnanakaran S. Insertion and Anchoring of the HIV-1 Fusion Peptide into a Complex Membrane Mimicking the Human T-Cell. J Phys Chem B 2024; 128:12710-12727. [PMID: 39670799 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcb.4c05018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2024]
Abstract
A fundamental understanding of how the HIV-1 envelope (Env) protein facilitates fusion is still lacking. The HIV-1 fusion peptide, consisting of 15 to 22 residues, is the N-terminus of the gp41 subunit of the Env protein. Further, this peptide, a promising vaccine candidate, initiates viral entry into target cells by inserting and anchoring into human immune cells. The influence of membrane lipid reorganization and the conformational changes of the fusion peptide during the membrane insertion and anchoring processes, which can significantly affect HIV-1 cell entry, remains largely unexplored due to the limitations of experimental measurements. In this work, we investigate the insertion of the fusion peptide into an immune cell membrane mimic through multiscale molecular dynamics simulations. We mimic the native T-cell by constructing a nine-lipid asymmetric membrane, along with geometrical restraints accounting for insertion in the context of gp41. To account for the slow time scale of lipid mixing while enabling conformational changes, we implement a protocol to go back and forth between atomistic and coarse-grained simulations. Our study provides a molecular understanding of the interactions between the HIV-1 fusion peptide and the T-cell membrane, highlighting the importance of the conformational flexibility of fusion peptides and local lipid reorganization in stabilizing the anchoring of gp41 into the targeted host membrane during the early events of HIV-1 cell entry. Importantly, we identify a motif within the fusion peptide critical for fusion that can be further manipulated in future immunological studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mingfei Zhao
- T-6 Theoretical Biology and Biophysics, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, New Mexico 87545, United States
| | - Laura J S Lopes
- T-6 Theoretical Biology and Biophysics, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, New Mexico 87545, United States
| | - Harshita Sahni
- T-6 Theoretical Biology and Biophysics, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, New Mexico 87545, United States
- Department of Computer Science, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87106,United States
| | - Anju Yadav
- T-6 Theoretical Biology and Biophysics, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, New Mexico 87545, United States
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, Texas 79968,United States
| | - Hung N Do
- T-6 Theoretical Biology and Biophysics, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, New Mexico 87545, United States
| | - Tyler Reddy
- CCS-7 Applied Computer Science Group, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, New Mexico 87545, United States
| | - Cesar A López
- T-6 Theoretical Biology and Biophysics, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, New Mexico 87545, United States
| | - Chris Neale
- T-6 Theoretical Biology and Biophysics, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, New Mexico 87545, United States
| | - S Gnanakaran
- T-6 Theoretical Biology and Biophysics, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, New Mexico 87545, United States
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8
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Kedir WM, Li L, Tan YS, Bajalovic N, Loke DK. Nanomaterials and methods for cancer therapy: 2D materials, biomolecules, and molecular dynamics simulations. J Mater Chem B 2024; 12:12141-12173. [PMID: 39502031 DOI: 10.1039/d4tb01667j] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/07/2024]
Abstract
This review explores the potential of biomolecule-based nanomaterials, i.e., protein, peptide, nucleic acid, and polysaccharide-based nanomaterials, in cancer nanomedicine. It highlights the wide range of design possibilities for creating multifunctional nanomedicines using these biomolecule-based nanomaterials. This review also analyzes the primary obstacles in cancer nanomedicine that can be resolved through the usage of nanomaterials based on biomolecules. It also examines the unique in vivo characteristics, programmability, and biological functionalities of these biomolecule-based nanomaterials. This summary outlines the most recent advancements in the development of two-dimensional semiconductor-based nanomaterials for cancer theranostic purposes. It focuses on the latest developments in molecular simulations and modelling to provide a clear understanding of important uses, techniques, and concepts of nanomaterials in drug delivery and synthesis processes. Finally, the review addresses the challenges in molecular simulations, and generating, analyzing, and developing biomolecule-based and two-dimensional semiconductor-based nanomaterials, and highlights the barriers that must be overcome to facilitate their application in clinical settings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Welela M Kedir
- Department of Science, Mathematics and Technology, Singapore University of Technology and Design, Singapore 487372, Singapore.
| | - Lunna Li
- Thomas Young Centre and Department of Chemical Engineering, University College London, London WC1E 7JE, UK
| | - Yaw Sing Tan
- Bioinformatics Institute, Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Singapore 138671, Singapore
| | - Natasa Bajalovic
- Department of Science, Mathematics and Technology, Singapore University of Technology and Design, Singapore 487372, Singapore.
| | - Desmond K Loke
- Department of Science, Mathematics and Technology, Singapore University of Technology and Design, Singapore 487372, Singapore.
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9
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Yu Z, Jackson NE. Chemically Transferable Electronic Coarse Graining for Polythiophenes. J Chem Theory Comput 2024; 20:9116-9127. [PMID: 39370933 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jctc.4c00804] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/08/2024]
Abstract
Recent advances in machine-learning-based electronic coarse graining (ECG) methods have demonstrated the potential to enable electronic predictions in soft materials at mesoscopic length scales. However, previous ECG models have yet to confront the issue of chemical transferability. In this study, we develop chemically transferable ECG models for polythiophenes using graph neural networks. Our models are trained on a data set that samples over the conformational space of random polythiophene sequences generated with 15 different monomer chemistries and three different degrees of polymerization. We systematically explore the impact of coarse-grained representation on ECG accuracy, highlighting the significance of preserving the C-β coordinates in thiophene. We also find that integrating unique polymer sequences into training enhances the model performance more efficiently than augmenting conformational sampling for sequences already in the training data set. Moreover, our ECG models, developed initially for one property and one level of quantum chemical theory, can be efficiently transferred to related properties and higher levels of theory with minimal additional data. The chemically transferable ECG model introduced in this work will serve as a foundation model for new classes of chemically transferable ECG predictions across chemical space.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zheng Yu
- Department of Chemistry, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61801, United States
| | - Nicholas E Jackson
- Department of Chemistry, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61801, United States
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10
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Coker JF, Moro S, Gertsen AS, Shi X, Pearce D, van der Schelling MP, Xu Y, Zhang W, Andreasen JW, Snyder CR, Richter LJ, Bird MJ, McCulloch I, Costantini G, Frost JM, Nelson J. Perpendicular crossing chains enable high mobility in a noncrystalline conjugated polymer. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2024; 121:e2403879121. [PMID: 39226361 PMCID: PMC11406284 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2403879121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2024] [Accepted: 07/22/2024] [Indexed: 09/05/2024] Open
Abstract
The nature of interchain π-system contacts, and their relationship to hole transport, are elucidated for the high-mobility, noncrystalline conjugated polymer C16-IDTBT by the application of scanning tunneling microscopy, molecular dynamics, and quantum chemical calculations. The microstructure is shown to favor an unusual packing motif in which paired chains cross-over one another at near-perpendicular angles. By linking to mesoscale microstructural features, revealed by coarse-grained molecular dynamics and previous studies, and performing simulations of charge transport, it is demonstrated that the high mobility of C16-IDTBT can be explained by the promotion of a highly interconnected transport network, stemming from the adoption of perpendicular contacts at the nanoscale, in combination with fast intrachain transport.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jack F Coker
- Department of Physics, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, United Kingdom
| | - Stefania Moro
- School of Chemistry, University of Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2TT, United Kingdom
| | - Anders S Gertsen
- Department of Energy Conversion and Storage, Technical University of Denmark, Kongens Lyngby 2800, Denmark
| | - Xingyuan Shi
- Department of Physics, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, United Kingdom
| | - Drew Pearce
- Department of Physics, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, United Kingdom
| | - Martin P van der Schelling
- Department of Physics, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, United Kingdom
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Delft University of Technology, Delft 2628 CD, The Netherlands
| | - Yucheng Xu
- Department of Physics, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, United Kingdom
- Department of Physics, Cavendish Laboratory, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB3 0HE, United Kingdom
| | - Weimin Zhang
- King Abdullah University of Science and Technology Solar Center, Division of Physical Sciences and Engineering, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal 23955, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
| | - Jens W Andreasen
- Department of Energy Conversion and Storage, Technical University of Denmark, Kongens Lyngby 2800, Denmark
| | - Chad R Snyder
- Material Science and Engineering Division, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, MD 20899
| | - Lee J Richter
- Material Science and Engineering Division, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, MD 20899
| | - Matthew J Bird
- Chemistry Division, Brookhaven National Laboratory, Upton, NY 11973
| | - Iain McCulloch
- Department of Chemistry, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3TA, United Kingdom
| | - Giovanni Costantini
- School of Chemistry, University of Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2TT, United Kingdom
| | - Jarvist M Frost
- Department of Chemistry, Imperial College London, London W12 0BZ, United Kingdom
| | - Jenny Nelson
- Department of Physics, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, United Kingdom
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11
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Tiemann JKS, Szczuka M, Bouarroudj L, Oussaren M, Garcia S, Howard RJ, Delemotte L, Lindahl E, Baaden M, Lindorff-Larsen K, Chavent M, Poulain P. MDverse, shedding light on the dark matter of molecular dynamics simulations. eLife 2024; 12:RP90061. [PMID: 39212001 PMCID: PMC11364437 DOI: 10.7554/elife.90061] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/04/2024] Open
Abstract
The rise of open science and the absence of a global dedicated data repository for molecular dynamics (MD) simulations has led to the accumulation of MD files in generalist data repositories, constituting the dark matter of MD - data that is technically accessible, but neither indexed, curated, or easily searchable. Leveraging an original search strategy, we found and indexed about 250,000 files and 2000 datasets from Zenodo, Figshare and Open Science Framework. With a focus on files produced by the Gromacs MD software, we illustrate the potential offered by the mining of publicly available MD data. We identified systems with specific molecular composition and were able to characterize essential parameters of MD simulation such as temperature and simulation length, and could identify model resolution, such as all-atom and coarse-grain. Based on this analysis, we inferred metadata to propose a search engine prototype to explore the MD data. To continue in this direction, we call on the community to pursue the effort of sharing MD data, and to report and standardize metadata to reuse this valuable matter.
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Affiliation(s)
- Johanna KS Tiemann
- Linderstrøm-Lang Centre for Protein Science, Department of Biology, University of CopenhagenCopenhagenDenmark
| | - Magdalena Szczuka
- Institut de Pharmacologie et Biologie Structurale, CNRS, Université de ToulouseToulouseFrance
| | - Lisa Bouarroudj
- Université Paris Cité, CNRS, Institut Jacques MonodParisFrance
| | | | | | - Rebecca J Howard
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Science for Life Laboratory, Stockholm UniversityStockholmSweden
| | - Lucie Delemotte
- Department of applied physics, Science for Life Laboratory, KTH Royal Institute of TechnologyStockholmSweden
| | - Erik Lindahl
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Science for Life Laboratory, Stockholm UniversityStockholmSweden
- Department of applied physics, Science for Life Laboratory, KTH Royal Institute of TechnologyStockholmSweden
| | - Marc Baaden
- Laboratoire de Biochimie Théorique, CNRS, Université Paris CitéParisFrance
| | - Kresten Lindorff-Larsen
- Linderstrøm-Lang Centre for Protein Science, Department of Biology, University of CopenhagenCopenhagenDenmark
| | - Matthieu Chavent
- Institut de Pharmacologie et Biologie Structurale, CNRS, Université de ToulouseToulouseFrance
| | - Pierre Poulain
- Université Paris Cité, CNRS, Institut Jacques MonodParisFrance
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12
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Zhao M, Lopes LJS, Sahni H, Yadav A, Do HN, Reddy T, López CA, Neale C, Gnanakaran S. Insertion and Anchoring of HIV-1 Fusion Peptide into Complex Membrane Mimicking Human T-cell. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.08.02.606381. [PMID: 39131401 PMCID: PMC11312619 DOI: 10.1101/2024.08.02.606381] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/13/2024]
Abstract
A fundamental understanding of how HIV-1 envelope (Env) protein facilitates fusion is still lacking. The HIV-1 fusion peptide, consisting of 15 to 22 residues, is the N-terminus of the gp41 subunit of the Env protein. Further, this peptide, a promising vaccine candidate, initiates viral entry into target cells by inserting and anchoring into human immune cells. The influence of membrane lipid reorganization and the conformational changes of the fusion peptide during the membrane insertion and anchoring processes, which can significantly affect HIV-1 cell entry, remains largely unexplored due to the limitations of experimental measurements. In this work, we investigate the insertion of the fusion peptide into an immune cell membrane mimic through multiscale molecular dynamics simulations. We mimic the native T-cell by constructing a 9-lipid asymmetric membrane, along with geometrical restraints accounting for insertion in the context of gp41. To account for the slow timescale of lipid mixing while enabling conformational changes, we implement a protocol to go back and forth between atomistic and coarse-grained simulations. Our study provides a molecular understanding of the interactions between the HIV-1 fusion peptide and the T-cell membrane, highlighting the importance of conformational flexibility of fusion peptides and local lipid reorganization in stabilizing the anchoring of gp41 into the targeted host membrane during the early events of HIV-1 cell entry. Importantly, we identify a motif within the fusion peptide critical for fusion that can be further manipulated in future immunological studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mingfei Zhao
- T-6 Theoretical Biology and Biophysics, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos NM USA
| | | | - Harshita Sahni
- T-6 Theoretical Biology and Biophysics, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos NM USA
- Department of Computer Science, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque NM, USA
| | - Anju Yadav
- T-6 Theoretical Biology and Biophysics, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos NM USA
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso TX, USA
| | - Hung N Do
- T-6 Theoretical Biology and Biophysics, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos NM USA
| | - Tyler Reddy
- CCS-7 Applied Computer Science Group, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos NM USA
| | - Cesar A López
- T-6 Theoretical Biology and Biophysics, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos NM USA
| | - Chris Neale
- T-6 Theoretical Biology and Biophysics, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos NM USA
| | - S Gnanakaran
- T-6 Theoretical Biology and Biophysics, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos NM USA
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13
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Brasnett C, Kiani A, Sami S, Otto S, Marrink SJ. Capturing chemical reactions inside biomolecular condensates with reactive Martini simulations. Commun Chem 2024; 7:151. [PMID: 38961263 PMCID: PMC11222477 DOI: 10.1038/s42004-024-01234-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2023] [Accepted: 06/25/2024] [Indexed: 07/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Biomolecular condensates are phase separated systems that play an important role in the spatio-temporal organisation of cells. Their distinct physico-chemical nature offers a unique environment for chemical reactions to occur. The compartmentalisation of chemical reactions is also believed to be central to the development of early life. To demonstrate how molecular dynamics may be used to capture chemical reactions in condensates, here we perform reactive molecular dynamics simulations using the coarse-grained Martini forcefield. We focus on the formation of rings of benzene-1,3-dithiol inside a synthetic peptide-based condensate, and find that the ring size distribution shifts to larger macrocycles compared to when the reaction takes place in an aqueous environment. Moreover, reaction rates are noticeably increased when the peptides simultaneously undergo phase separation, hinting that condensates may act as chaperones in recruiting molecules to reaction hubs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher Brasnett
- Groningen Biomolecular Sciences and Biotechnology Institute, University of Groningen, 9747 AG, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Armin Kiani
- Centre for Systems Chemistry, Stratingh Institute, University of Groningen, 9747 AG, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Selim Sami
- Kenneth S. Pitzer Theory Center and Department of Chemistry, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA
| | - Sijbren Otto
- Centre for Systems Chemistry, Stratingh Institute, University of Groningen, 9747 AG, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Siewert J Marrink
- Groningen Biomolecular Sciences and Biotechnology Institute, University of Groningen, 9747 AG, Groningen, The Netherlands.
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14
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Borges-Araújo L, Pereira GP, Valério M, Souza PCT. Assessing the Martini 3 protein model: A review of its path and potential. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA. PROTEINS AND PROTEOMICS 2024; 1872:141014. [PMID: 38670324 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbapap.2024.141014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2024] [Revised: 03/13/2024] [Accepted: 04/09/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024]
Abstract
Coarse-grained (CG) protein models have become indispensable tools for studying many biological protein details, from conformational dynamics to the organization of protein macro-complexes, and even the interaction of proteins with other molecules. The Martini force field is one of the most widely used CG models for bio-molecular simulations, partly because of the enormous success of its protein model. With the recent release of a new and improved version of the Martini force field - Martini 3 - a new iteration of its protein model was also made available. The Martini 3 protein force field is an evolution of its Martini 2 counterpart, aimed at improving many of the shortcomings that had been previously identified. In this mini-review, we first provide a general overview of the model and then focus on the successful advances made in the short time since its release, many of which would not have been possible before. Furthermore, we discuss reported limitations, potential directions for model improvement and comment on what the likely future development and application avenues are.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luís Borges-Araújo
- Laboratoire de Biologie et Modélisation de la Cellule, CNRS, UMR 5239, Inserm, U1293, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, Ecole Normale Supérieure de Lyon, 46 Allée d'Italie, 69364 Lyon, France; Centre Blaise Pascal de Simulation et de Modélisation Numérique, Ecole Normale Supérieure de Lyon, 46 Allée d'Italie, 69364 Lyon, France
| | - Gilberto P Pereira
- Laboratoire de Biologie et Modélisation de la Cellule, CNRS, UMR 5239, Inserm, U1293, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, Ecole Normale Supérieure de Lyon, 46 Allée d'Italie, 69364 Lyon, France; Centre Blaise Pascal de Simulation et de Modélisation Numérique, Ecole Normale Supérieure de Lyon, 46 Allée d'Italie, 69364 Lyon, France
| | - Mariana Valério
- Laboratoire de Biologie et Modélisation de la Cellule, CNRS, UMR 5239, Inserm, U1293, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, Ecole Normale Supérieure de Lyon, 46 Allée d'Italie, 69364 Lyon, France; Centre Blaise Pascal de Simulation et de Modélisation Numérique, Ecole Normale Supérieure de Lyon, 46 Allée d'Italie, 69364 Lyon, France
| | - Paulo C T Souza
- Laboratoire de Biologie et Modélisation de la Cellule, CNRS, UMR 5239, Inserm, U1293, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, Ecole Normale Supérieure de Lyon, 46 Allée d'Italie, 69364 Lyon, France; Centre Blaise Pascal de Simulation et de Modélisation Numérique, Ecole Normale Supérieure de Lyon, 46 Allée d'Italie, 69364 Lyon, France.
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15
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Tiemann JKS, Szczuka M, Bouarroudj L, Oussaren M, Garcia S, Howard RJ, Delemotte L, Lindahl E, Baaden M, Lindorff-Larsen K, Chavent M, Poulain P. MDverse: Shedding Light on the Dark Matter of Molecular Dynamics Simulations. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2023.05.02.538537. [PMID: 37205542 PMCID: PMC10187166 DOI: 10.1101/2023.05.02.538537] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
The rise of open science and the absence of a global dedicated data repository for molecular dynamics (MD) simulations has led to the accumulation of MD files in generalist data repositories, constituting the dark matter of MD - data that is technically accessible, but neither indexed, curated, or easily searchable. Leveraging an original search strategy, we found and indexed about 250,000 files and 2,000 datasets from Zenodo, Figshare and Open Science Framework. With a focus on files produced by the Gromacs MD software, we illustrate the potential offered by the mining of publicly available MD data. We identified systems with specific molecular composition and were able to characterize essential parameters of MD simulation such as temperature and simulation length, and could identify model resolution, such as all-atom and coarse-grain. Based on this analysis, we inferred metadata to propose a search engine prototype to explore the MD data. To continue in this direction, we call on the community to pursue the effort of sharing MD data, and to report and standardize metadata to reuse this valuable matter.
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16
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Zhu Q, Wu Y, Luo R. Understanding and fine tuning the propensity of ATP-driven liquid-liquid phase separation with oligolysine. Phys Chem Chem Phys 2024; 26:10568-10578. [PMID: 38512104 PMCID: PMC11056285 DOI: 10.1039/d4cp00761a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/22/2024]
Abstract
Liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS) plays a pivotal role in the organization and functionality of living cells. It is imperative to understand the underlying driving forces behind LLPS and to control its occurrence. In this study, we employed coarse-grained (CG) simulations as a research tool to investigate systems comprising oligolysine and adenosine triphosphate (ATP) under conditions of various ionic concentrations and oligolysine lengths. Consistent with experimental observations, our CG simulations captured the formation of LLPS upon the addition of ATP and tendency of dissociating under high ionic concentration. The electrostatic interaction between oligolysine and ATP is of great importance in forming LLPS. An in-depth analysis on the structural properties of LLPS was conducted, where the oligolysine structure remained unchanged with increased ionic concentration and the addition of ATP led to a more pronounced curvature, aligning with the observed enhancement of α-helical secondary structure in experiments. In terms of the dynamic properties, the introduction of ATP led to a significant reduction in translational and vibrational degrees of freedom but not rotational degrees of freedom. Through keeping the total number of charged residues constant and varying their entropic effects, we constructed two systems of similar biochemical significance and further validated the entropy effects on the LLPS formation. These findings provide a deeper understanding of LLPS formation and shed lights on the development of novel bioreactor and primitive artificial cells for synthesizing key chemicals for certain diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiang Zhu
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Materials Science and Engineering, and Biomedical Engineering, University of California, Irvine, California 92697, USA.
| | - Yongxian Wu
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Materials Science and Engineering, and Biomedical Engineering, University of California, Irvine, California 92697, USA.
| | - Ray Luo
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Materials Science and Engineering, and Biomedical Engineering, University of California, Irvine, California 92697, USA.
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17
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Sarter T, Friess W. Molecular Dynamics Study of Protein Aggregation at Moving Interfaces. Mol Pharm 2024; 21:1214-1221. [PMID: 38321750 DOI: 10.1021/acs.molpharmaceut.3c00865] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2024]
Abstract
Repeated compression and dilation of a protein film adsorbed to an interface lead to aggregation and entry of film fragments into the bulk. This is a major mechanism for protein aggregate formation in drug products upon mechanical stress, such as shaking or pumping. To gain a better understanding of these events, we developed a molecular dynamics (MD) setup, which would, in a later stage, allow for in silico formulation optimization. In contrast to previous approaches, the molecules of our model protein human growth hormone displayed realistic shapes, surfaces, and interactions with each other and the interface. This enabled quantitative assessment of protein cluster formation. Simulation outcomes aligned with experimental data on subvisible particles and turbidity, thereby validating the model. Computational and experimental results indicated that compression speed does not affect the aggregation behavior of preformed protein films but rather their regeneration. Protein clusters that formed during compression disassembled upon relaxation, suggesting that the particles originate from a partly compressed state. Desorption studies via steered MD revealed that proteins from compressed systems are more likely to detach as clusters, implying that compression effects at the interface translate into aggregates present in the bulk solution. With the possibility of studying the impact of different variables upon compression and dilation at the interface on a molecular level, our model contributes to the understanding of the mechanisms of protein aggregation at moving interfaces. It also enables further studies to change formulation parameters, interfaces, or proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tim Sarter
- Department of Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Technology and Biopharmaceutics, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, 81377 Munich, Germany
| | - Wolfgang Friess
- Department of Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Technology and Biopharmaceutics, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, 81377 Munich, Germany
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18
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Kharche S, Yadav M, Hande V, Prakash S, Sengupta D. Improved Protein Dynamics and Hydration in the Martini3 Coarse-Grain Model. J Chem Inf Model 2024; 64:837-850. [PMID: 38291973 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jcim.3c00802] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/01/2024]
Abstract
The Martini coarse-grain force-field has emerged as an important framework to probe cellular processes at experimentally relevant time- and length-scales. However, the recently developed version, the Martini3 force-field with the implemented Go̅ model (Martini3Go̅), as well as previous variants of the Martini model have not been benchmarked and rigorously tested for globular proteins. In this study, we consider three globular proteins, ubiquitin, lysozyme, and cofilin, and compare protein dynamics and hydration with observables from experiments and all-atom simulations. We show that the Martini3Go̅ model is able to accurately model the structural and dynamic features of small globular proteins. Overall, the structural integrity of the proteins is maintained, as validated by contact maps, radii of gyration (Rg), and SAXS profiles. The chemical shifts predicted from the ensemble sampled in the simulations are consistent with the experimental data. Further, a good match is observed in the protein-water interaction energetics, and the hydration levels of the residues are similar to atomistic simulations. However, the protein-water interaction dynamics is not accurately represented and appears to depend on the protein structural complexity, residue specificity, and water dynamics. Our work is a step toward testing and assessing the Martini3Go̅ model and provides insights into future efforts to refine Martini models with improved solvation effects and better correspondence to the underlying all-atom systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shalmali Kharche
- CSIR-National Chemical Laboratory, Dr. Homi Bhabha Road, Pune 411008, India
| | - Manjul Yadav
- CSIR-National Chemical Laboratory, Dr. Homi Bhabha Road, Pune 411008, India
| | - Vrushali Hande
- CSIR-National Chemical Laboratory, Dr. Homi Bhabha Road, Pune 411008, India
| | - Shikha Prakash
- CSIR-National Chemical Laboratory, Dr. Homi Bhabha Road, Pune 411008, India
| | - Durba Sengupta
- CSIR-National Chemical Laboratory, Dr. Homi Bhabha Road, Pune 411008, India
- Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad 201002, India
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19
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Xue Q, Jiao Z, Liu X, Pan W, Fu J, Zhang A. Dynamic Behavior and Interaction Mechanism of Soil Organic Matter in Water Systems: A Coarse-Grained Molecular Dynamics Study. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2024; 58:1531-1540. [PMID: 38118063 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.3c05966] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2023]
Abstract
Investigating soil organic matter's (SOM) microscale assembly and functionality is challenging due to its complexity. This study constructs comparatively realistic SOM models, including diverse components such as Leonardite humic acid (LHA), lipids, peptides, carbohydrates, and lignin, to unveil their spontaneous self-assembly behavior at the mesoscopic scale through microsecond coarse-grained molecular dynamics simulations. We discovered an ordered SOM aggregation creating a layered phase from its hydrophobic core to the aqueous phase, resulting in an increasing O/C ratio and declining structural amphiphilicity. Notably, the amphiphilic lipids formed a bilayer membrane, partnering with lignin to constitute SOM's hydrophobic core. LHA, despite forming a layer, was embedded within this structure. The formation of such complex architectures was driven by nonbonded interactions between components. Our analysis revealed component-dependent diffusion effects within the SOM system. Lipids, peptides, and lignin showed inhibitory effects on self-diffusion, while carbohydrates facilitated diffusion. This study offers novel insights into the dynamic behavior and assembly of SOM components, introducing an effective approach for studying dynamic SOM mechanisms in aquatic environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiao Xue
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, P. R. China
| | - Zhiyue Jiao
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, P. R. China
- College of Resources and Environment, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, P. R. China
| | - Xian Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, P. R. China
| | - Wenxiao Pan
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, P. R. China
| | - Jianjie Fu
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, P. R. China
- College of Resources and Environment, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, P. R. China
- School of Environment, Hangzhou Institute for Advanced Study, UCAS, Hangzhou 310000, P. R. China
| | - Aiqian Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, P. R. China
- College of Resources and Environment, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, P. R. China
- School of Environment, Hangzhou Institute for Advanced Study, UCAS, Hangzhou 310000, P. R. China
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20
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Chen LH, Hu JN. Development of nano-delivery systems for loaded bioactive compounds: using molecular dynamics simulations. Crit Rev Food Sci Nutr 2024; 65:1811-1832. [PMID: 38206576 DOI: 10.1080/10408398.2023.2301427] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/12/2024]
Abstract
Over the past decade, a remarkable surge in the development of functional nano-delivery systems loaded with bioactive compounds for healthcare has been witnessed. Notably, the demanding requirements of high solubility, prolonged circulation, high tissue penetration capability, and strong targeting ability of nanocarriers have posed interdisciplinary research challenges to the community. While extensive experimental studies have been conducted to understand the construction of nano-delivery systems and their metabolic behavior in vivo, less is known about these molecular mechanisms and kinetic pathways during their metabolic process in vivo, and lacking effective means for high-throughput screening. Molecular dynamics (MD) simulation techniques provide a reliable tool for investigating the design of nano-delivery carriers encapsulating these functional ingredients, elucidating the synthesis, translocation, and delivery of nanocarriers. This review introduces the basic MD principles, discusses how to apply MD simulation to design nanocarriers, evaluates the ability of nanocarriers to adhere to or cross gastrointestinal mucosa, and regulates plasma proteins in vivo. Moreover, we presented the critical role of MD simulation in developing delivery systems for precise nutrition and prospects for the future. This review aims to provide insights into the implications of MD simulation techniques for designing and optimizing nano-delivery systems in the healthcare food industry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Li-Hang Chen
- SKL of Marine Food Processing & Safety Control, National Engineering Research Center of Seafood, Collaborative Innovation Center of Seafood Deep Processing, School of Food Science and Technology, Dalian Polytechnic University, Dalian, China
| | - Jiang-Ning Hu
- SKL of Marine Food Processing & Safety Control, National Engineering Research Center of Seafood, Collaborative Innovation Center of Seafood Deep Processing, School of Food Science and Technology, Dalian Polytechnic University, Dalian, China
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21
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Cammarata MDM, Contin MD, Negri RM, Factorovich MH. Diffusion Coefficients of Variable-Size Amphiphilic Additives in a Glass-Forming Polyethylene Matrix. J Phys Chem B 2024; 128:312-328. [PMID: 38146058 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcb.3c04904] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2023]
Abstract
Diffusion of additives in polymers is an important issue in the plastics industry since migratory-type molecules are widely used to tune the properties of polymeric composites. Predicting the diffusional behavior of new additives can minimize the need for repetitive experiments. This work presents molecular dynamics simulations at the microsecond time scale and uses the MARTINI force field to estimate self-diffusion coefficients, D, of six monounsaturated amides and their analogs carboxylic acids in polyethylene matrices (PE, MW = 5600 Da). The results are strongly influenced by the glass-forming properties of the PE matrix, which we characterize by three distinct temperatures. The metastability region (T < 325 K), the glass transition temperature (Tg = 256-260 K), and the end of the transition (T ≅ 200 K). Self-diffusion mechanisms are inferred from the results of the dependence of D on the molecular mass of the additive, observing a Rouse-like behavior at high temperatures and deviations from it within the metastability region of the matrix. Interestingly, D values are nonsensitive to the nature of the considered polar head for additives of similar size. The temperature-dependent behavior of D follows, at fixed additive size, a linear Arrhenius pattern at high temperatures and a super Arrhenius trend at lower temperatures, which is well represented with a power law equation as predicted by the Mode Coupling Theory (MCT). We offer a conceptual explanation for the observed super-Arrhenius behavior. This explanation draws on Truhlar and Kohen's interpretation of the available energies at both the initial and the transition states along the diffusion pathway. The matrix's mobility significantly affects solute self-diffusion, yielding equal activation enthalpies for the Arrhenius region or the same power law parameters for the super-Arrhenius regime. Finally, we establish a one-to-one time-equivalence of the self-diffusion processes between CG and all-atom systems for the largest additives and the PE matrix in the high-temperature regime.
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Affiliation(s)
- María Del Mar Cammarata
- Departamento de Química Inorgánica, Analítica y Química Física/INQUIMAE, Facultad de Ciencias y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Ciudad Universitaria, Pab. II, Buenos Aires C1428EHA, Argentina
| | - Mario D Contin
- Departamento de Ciencias Química, Catedra de Química Analítica. Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Junín 954, Buenos Aires C1113AAD, Argentina
| | - R Martín Negri
- Departamento de Química Inorgánica, Analítica y Química Física/INQUIMAE, Facultad de Ciencias y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Ciudad Universitaria, Pab. II, Buenos Aires C1428EHA, Argentina
| | - Matias H Factorovich
- Departamento de Química Inorgánica, Analítica y Química Física/INQUIMAE, Facultad de Ciencias y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Ciudad Universitaria, Pab. II, Buenos Aires C1428EHA, Argentina
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22
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Borges-Araújo L, Patmanidis I, Singh AP, Santos LHS, Sieradzan AK, Vanni S, Czaplewski C, Pantano S, Shinoda W, Monticelli L, Liwo A, Marrink SJ, Souza PCT. Pragmatic Coarse-Graining of Proteins: Models and Applications. J Chem Theory Comput 2023; 19:7112-7135. [PMID: 37788237 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jctc.3c00733] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/05/2023]
Abstract
The molecular details involved in the folding, dynamics, organization, and interaction of proteins with other molecules are often difficult to assess by experimental techniques. Consequently, computational models play an ever-increasing role in the field. However, biological processes involving large-scale protein assemblies or long time scale dynamics are still computationally expensive to study in atomistic detail. For these applications, employing coarse-grained (CG) modeling approaches has become a key strategy. In this Review, we provide an overview of what we call pragmatic CG protein models, which are strategies combining, at least in part, a physics-based implementation and a top-down experimental approach to their parametrization. In particular, we focus on CG models in which most protein residues are represented by at least two beads, allowing these models to retain some degree of chemical specificity. A description of the main modern pragmatic protein CG models is provided, including a review of the most recent applications and an outlook on future perspectives in the field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luís Borges-Araújo
- Molecular Microbiology and Structural Biochemistry (MMSB, UMR 5086), CNRS, University of Lyon, 7 Passage du Vercors, 69007 Lyon, France
| | - Ilias Patmanidis
- Department of Chemistry, Aarhus University, Langelandsgade 140, 8000 Aarhus C, Denmark
- Groningen Biomolecular Sciences and Biotechnology Institute and Zernike Institute for Advanced Materials, University of Groningen, Nijenborgh 7, 9747 AG Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Akhil P Singh
- Department of Biology, University of Fribourg, Chemin du Musée 10, Fribourg CH-1700, Switzerland
| | - Lucianna H S Santos
- Biomolecular Simulations Group, Institut Pasteur de Montevideo, Montevideo 11400, Uruguay
| | - Adam K Sieradzan
- Faculty of Chemistry, University of Gdansk, Wita Stwosza 63, 80-308 Gdansk, Poland
| | - Stefano Vanni
- Department of Biology, University of Fribourg, Chemin du Musée 10, Fribourg CH-1700, Switzerland
- Institut de Pharmacologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire, Université Côte d'Azur, Inserm, CNRS, 06560 Valbonne, France
| | - Cezary Czaplewski
- Faculty of Chemistry, University of Gdansk, Wita Stwosza 63, 80-308 Gdansk, Poland
| | - Sergio Pantano
- Biomolecular Simulations Group, Institut Pasteur de Montevideo, Montevideo 11400, Uruguay
| | - Wataru Shinoda
- Research Institute for Interdisciplinary Science, Okayama University, 3-1-1 Tsushima-naka, Kita, Okayama 700-8530, Japan
| | - Luca Monticelli
- Molecular Microbiology and Structural Biochemistry (MMSB, UMR 5086), CNRS, University of Lyon, 7 Passage du Vercors, 69007 Lyon, France
| | - Adam Liwo
- Faculty of Chemistry, University of Gdansk, Wita Stwosza 63, 80-308 Gdansk, Poland
| | - Siewert J Marrink
- Groningen Biomolecular Sciences and Biotechnology Institute and Zernike Institute for Advanced Materials, University of Groningen, Nijenborgh 7, 9747 AG Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Paulo C T Souza
- Molecular Microbiology and Structural Biochemistry (MMSB, UMR 5086), CNRS, University of Lyon, 7 Passage du Vercors, 69007 Lyon, France
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23
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Livraghi M, Pahi S, Nowakowski P, Smith DM, Wick CR, Smith AS. Block Chemistry for Accurate Modeling of Epoxy Resins. J Phys Chem B 2023; 127:7648-7662. [PMID: 37616478 PMCID: PMC10493980 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcb.3c04724] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2023] [Revised: 07/26/2023] [Indexed: 08/26/2023]
Abstract
Accurate molecular modeling of the physical and chemical behavior of highly cross-linked epoxy resins at the atomistic scale is important for the design of new property-optimized materials. However, a systematic approach to parametrizing and characterizing these systems in molecular dynamics is missing. We therefore present a unified scheme to derive atomic charges for amine-based epoxy resins, in agreement with the AMBER force field, based on defining reactive fragments─blocks─building the network. The approach is applicable to all stages of curing from pure liquid to gelation to fully cured glass. We utilize this approach to study DGEBA/DDS epoxy systems, incorporating dynamic topology changes into atomistic molecular dynamics simulations of the curing reaction with 127,000 atoms. We study size effects in our simulations and predict the gel point utilizing a rigorous percolation theory to recover accurately the experimental data. Furthermore, we observe excellent agreement between the estimated and the experimentally determined glass transition temperatures as a function of curing rate. Finally, we demonstrate the quality of our model by the prediction of the elastic modulus based on uniaxial tensile tests. The presented scheme paves the way for a broadly consistent approach for modeling and characterizing all amine-based epoxy resins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mattia Livraghi
- Friedrich-Alexander-Universität
Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Institute for Theoretical Physics,
PULS Group, Interdisciplinary Center for Nanostructured Films (IZNF), Cauerstrasse 3, Erlangen 91058, Germany
| | - Sampanna Pahi
- Friedrich-Alexander-Universität
Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Institute for Theoretical Physics,
PULS Group, Interdisciplinary Center for Nanostructured Films (IZNF), Cauerstrasse 3, Erlangen 91058, Germany
| | - Piotr Nowakowski
- Group
for Computational Life Sciences, Division of Physical Chemistry, Ruđer Bošković Institute, Bijenička cesta 54, Zagreb 10000, Croatia
| | - David M. Smith
- Group
for Computational Life Sciences, Division of Physical Chemistry, Ruđer Bošković Institute, Bijenička cesta 54, Zagreb 10000, Croatia
| | - Christian R. Wick
- Friedrich-Alexander-Universität
Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Institute for Theoretical Physics,
PULS Group, Interdisciplinary Center for Nanostructured Films (IZNF), Cauerstrasse 3, Erlangen 91058, Germany
| | - Ana-Sunčana Smith
- Friedrich-Alexander-Universität
Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Institute for Theoretical Physics,
PULS Group, Interdisciplinary Center for Nanostructured Films (IZNF), Cauerstrasse 3, Erlangen 91058, Germany
- Group
for Computational Life Sciences, Division of Physical Chemistry, Ruđer Bošković Institute, Bijenička cesta 54, Zagreb 10000, Croatia
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24
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Gabrielli V, Ferrarini A, Frasconi M. A study across scales to unveil microstructural regimes in the multivalent metal driven self-assembly of cellulose nanocrystals. NANOSCALE 2023; 15:13384-13392. [PMID: 37531168 DOI: 10.1039/d3nr01418e] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/03/2023]
Abstract
Understanding the behaviour of self-assembled systems, from nanoscale building blocks to bulk materials, is a central theme for the rational design of high-performance materials. Herein, we revealed, at different length scales, how the self-assembly of TEMPO-oxidised cellulose nanocrystals (TOCNCs) into rod fractal gels is directed by the complexation of Fe3+ ions on the surface of colloidal particles. Different specificities in Fe3+ binding on the TOCNC surface and conformational changes of the nanocellulose chain were unveiled by paramagnetic NMR spectroscopy. The macroscopic properties of systems presenting different concentrations of TOCNCs and Fe3+ ions were investigated by rheology and microscopy, demonstrating the tunability of the self-assembly of cellulose nanorods driven by Fe3+ complexation. Near-atomistic coarse-grained molecular dynamics simulations were developed to gain microscopic insight into the behaviour of this colloidal system. We found that the formation of different self-assembled architectures is driven by metal-nanocellulose complexation combined with the attenuation of electrostatic repulsion and water structuration around cellulose, leading to different microstructural regimes, from isolated nanorods to disconnected rod fractal clusters and rod fractal gels. These findings lay the foundation to unlock the full potential of cellulose nanocrystals as sustainable building blocks to develop self-assembled materials with defined structural control for a range of advanced applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valeria Gabrielli
- Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Padova, Via Marzolo 1, 35131 Padova, Italy.
| | - Alberta Ferrarini
- Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Padova, Via Marzolo 1, 35131 Padova, Italy.
| | - Marco Frasconi
- Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Padova, Via Marzolo 1, 35131 Padova, Italy.
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25
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Yu H, Qin L, Zhou J. Effect of Oil Polarity on the Protein Adsorption at Oil-Water Interfaces. LANGMUIR : THE ACS JOURNAL OF SURFACES AND COLLOIDS 2023; 39:10701-10710. [PMID: 37470337 DOI: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.3c01541] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/21/2023]
Abstract
Protein adsorption at oil-water interfaces has received much attention in applications of food emulsion and biocatalysis. The protein activity is influenced by the protein orientation and conformation. The oil polarity is expected to influence the orientation and conformation of adsorbed proteins by modulating intermolecular interactions. Hence, it is possible to tune the protein emulsion stability and activity by varying the oil polarity. Martini v3.0-based coarse-grained molecular dynamics (CGMD) simulations were employed to investigate the effect of oil polarity on the orientation and conformation of hydrophobin (HFBI) and Candida antarctica lipase B (CALB) adsorbed at triolein-water, hexadecane-water, and octanol-water interfaces for the first time. The protein adsorption orientation was predicted through the hydrophobic dipole, indicating that protein adsorption exists in preferred orientations at hydrophobic oil interfaces. The conformation of the adsorbed HFBI is well conserved, whereas relatively larger conformational changes occur during the CALB adsorption as the oil hydrophobicity increases. Comparisons on the adsorption interaction energy of proteins with oils confirm the relationship between the oil polarity and the interaction strength of proteins with oils. In addition, CGMD simulations allow longer time scale simulations of the behaviors of protein adsorption at oil-water interfaces.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hai Yu
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Guangdong Provincial Key Lab for Green Chemical Product Technology, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510640, P. R. China
| | - Lanlan Qin
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Guangdong Provincial Key Lab for Green Chemical Product Technology, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510640, P. R. China
| | - Jian Zhou
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Guangdong Provincial Key Lab for Green Chemical Product Technology, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510640, P. R. China
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26
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Wu Z, Wu JW, Michaudel Q, Jayaraman A. Investigating the Hydrogen Bond-Induced Self-Assembly of Polysulfamides Using Molecular Simulations and Experiments. Macromolecules 2023; 56:5033-5049. [PMID: 38362140 PMCID: PMC10865372 DOI: 10.1021/acs.macromol.3c01093] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2023] [Revised: 06/08/2023] [Indexed: 02/17/2024]
Abstract
In this paper, we present a synergistic, experimental, and computational study of the self-assembly of N,N'-disubstituted polysulfamides driven by hydrogen bonds (H-bonds) between the H-bonding donor and acceptor groups present in repeating sulfamides as a function of the structural design of the polysulfamide backbone. We developed a coarse-grained (CG) polysulfamide model that captures the directionality of H-bonds between the sulfamide groups and used this model in molecular dynamics (MD) simulations to study the self-assembly of these polymers in implicit solvent. The CGMD approach was validated by reproducing experimentally observed trends in the extent of crystallinity for three polysulfamides synthesized with aliphatic and/or aromatic repeating units. After validation of our CGMD approach, we computationally predicted the effect of repeat unit bulkiness, length, and uniformity of segment lengths in the polymers on the extent of orientational and positional order among the self-assembled polysulfamide chains, providing key design principles for tuning the extent of crystallinity in polysulfamides in experiments. Those computational predictions were then experimentally tested through the synthesis and characterization of polysulfamide architectures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zijie Wu
- Department
of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Delaware, 150 Academy St., Newark, Delaware 19716, United States
| | - Jiun Wei Wu
- Department
of Chemistry, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77843, United States
| | - Quentin Michaudel
- Department
of Chemistry, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77843, United States
- Department
of Materials Science & Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77843, United States
| | - Arthi Jayaraman
- Department
of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Delaware, 150 Academy St., Newark, Delaware 19716, United States
- Department
of Materials Science and Engineering, University
of Delaware, 201 DuPont Hall, Newark, Delaware 19716, United States
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27
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Sami S, Marrink SJ. Reactive Martini: Chemical Reactions in Coarse-Grained Molecular Dynamics Simulations. J Chem Theory Comput 2023. [PMID: 37327401 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jctc.2c01186] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Chemical reactions are ubiquitous in both materials and the biophysical sciences. While coarse-grained (CG) molecular dynamics simulations are often needed to study the spatiotemporal scales present in these fields, chemical reactivity has not been explored thoroughly in CG models. In this work, a new approach to model chemical reactivity is presented for the widely used Martini CG Martini model. Employing tabulated potentials with a single extra particle for the angle dependence, the model provides a generic framework for capturing bonded topology changes using nonbonded interactions. As a first example application, the reactive model is used to study the macrocycle formation of benzene-1,3-dithiol molecules through the formation of disulfide bonds. We show that starting from monomers, macrocycles with sizes in agreement with experimental results are obtained using reactive Martini. Overall, our reactive Martini framework is general and can be easily extended to other systems. All of the required scripts and tutorials to explain its use are provided online.
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Affiliation(s)
- Selim Sami
- Groningen Biomolecular Sciences and Biotechnology Institute, University of Groningen, Nijenborgh 7, 9747 AG Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Siewert J Marrink
- Groningen Biomolecular Sciences and Biotechnology Institute, University of Groningen, Nijenborgh 7, 9747 AG Groningen, The Netherlands
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28
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Singh RP, Kaur T. HRMAS-NMR and simulation study of the self-assembly of surfactants on carbon nanotubes. Phys Chem Chem Phys 2023; 25:12900-12913. [PMID: 37165884 DOI: 10.1039/d2cp03762a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
Polyethoxylated surfactants, such as those of the Tween and Pluronic series, are commonly used to disperse carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and other nanoparticles. However, the current understanding of the nature of interactions between these surfactants and CNTs is limited. The nature of the interactions between surfactants (Tween-80 [T80] and Pluronic F68 [PF68]) and CNTs was investigated using high-resolution magic angle spinning nuclear magnetic resonance (HRMAS-NMR) and coarse-grained molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. HRMAS-NMR revealed that T80 molecules interact with single-walled CNTs (SWCNTs) and multi-walled CNTs (MWCNTs) via the oleyl chain, whereas PF68 molecules interact with the surface of SWCNTs and MWCNTs via the polypropylene oxide residues. The polyethylene oxide chains were oriented towards the external aqueous environment. The HRMAS-NMR results were supported by MD simulations, and the latter provided further insights into the nature of the interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raman Preet Singh
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Government Polytechnic College for Girls, Patiala, PB, 147 001, India.
| | - Taranpreet Kaur
- Department of Biotechnology, Government Mohindra College, Patiala, PB, 147 001, India
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29
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Jussupow A, Kaila VRI. Effective Molecular Dynamics from Neural Network-Based Structure Prediction Models. J Chem Theory Comput 2023; 19:1965-1975. [PMID: 36961997 PMCID: PMC11181330 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jctc.2c01027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2022] [Indexed: 03/26/2023]
Abstract
Recent breakthroughs in neural network-based structure prediction methods, such as AlphaFold2 and RoseTTAFold, have dramatically improved the quality of computational protein structure prediction. These models also provide statistical confidence scores that can estimate uncertainties in the predicted structures, but it remains unclear to what extent these scores are related to the intrinsic conformational dynamics of proteins. Here, we compare AlphaFold2 prediction scores with explicit large-scale molecular dynamics simulations of 28 one- and two-domain proteins with varying degrees of flexibility. We demonstrate a strong correlation between the statistical prediction scores and the explicit motion derived from extensive atomistic molecular dynamics simulations and further derive an elastic network model based on the statistical scores of AlphFold2 (AF-ENM), which we benchmark in combination with coarse-grained molecular dynamics simulations. We show that our AF-ENM method reproduces the global protein dynamics with improved accuracy, providing a powerful way to derive effective molecular dynamics using neural network-based structure prediction models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander Jussupow
- Department of Biochemistry
and Biophysics, Stockholm University, 10691 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Ville R. I. Kaila
- Department of Biochemistry
and Biophysics, Stockholm University, 10691 Stockholm, Sweden
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30
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Hilpert C, Beranger L, Souza PCT, Vainikka PA, Nieto V, Marrink SJ, Monticelli L, Launay G. Facilitating CG Simulations with MAD: The MArtini Database Server. J Chem Inf Model 2023; 63:702-710. [PMID: 36656159 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jcim.2c01375] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Abstract
The MArtini Database (MAD - https://mad.ibcp.fr) is a web server designed for the sharing of structures and topologies of molecules parametrized with the Martini coarse-grained (CG) force field. MAD can also convert atomistic structures into CG structures and prepare complex systems (including proteins, lipids, etc.) for molecular dynamics (MD) simulations at the CG level. It is dedicated to the generation of input files for Martini 3, the most recent version of this popular CG force field. Specifically, the MAD server currently includes tools to submit or retrieve CG models of a wide range of molecules (lipids, carbohydrates, nanoparticles, etc.), transform atomistic protein structures into CG structures and topologies, with fine control on the process and assemble biomolecules into large systems, and deliver all files necessary to start simulations in the GROMACS MD engine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cécile Hilpert
- Microbiologie Moléculaire et Biochimie Structurale (MMSB), UMR 5086 CNRS & University of Lyon. 7 passage du Vercors, 69367 Lyon, France
| | - Louis Beranger
- Microbiologie Moléculaire et Biochimie Structurale (MMSB), UMR 5086 CNRS & University of Lyon. 7 passage du Vercors, 69367 Lyon, France
| | - Paulo C T Souza
- Microbiologie Moléculaire et Biochimie Structurale (MMSB), UMR 5086 CNRS & University of Lyon. 7 passage du Vercors, 69367 Lyon, France
| | - Petteri A Vainikka
- Groningen Biomolecular Sciences and Biotechnology Institute, University of Groningen, Nijenborgh 7, 9747 AG Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Vincent Nieto
- Microbiologie Moléculaire et Biochimie Structurale (MMSB), UMR 5086 CNRS & University of Lyon. 7 passage du Vercors, 69367 Lyon, France
| | - Siewert J Marrink
- Groningen Biomolecular Sciences and Biotechnology Institute, University of Groningen, Nijenborgh 7, 9747 AG Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Luca Monticelli
- Microbiologie Moléculaire et Biochimie Structurale (MMSB), UMR 5086 CNRS & University of Lyon. 7 passage du Vercors, 69367 Lyon, France
| | - Guillaume Launay
- Microbiologie Moléculaire et Biochimie Structurale (MMSB), UMR 5086 CNRS & University of Lyon. 7 passage du Vercors, 69367 Lyon, France
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31
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Polymer brushes for friction control: Contributions of molecular simulations. Biointerphases 2023; 18:010801. [PMID: 36653299 DOI: 10.1116/6.0002310] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
When polymer chains are grafted to solid surfaces at sufficiently high density, they form brushes that can modify the surface properties. In particular, polymer brushes are increasingly being used to reduce friction in water-lubricated systems close to the very low levels found in natural systems, such as synovial joints. New types of polymer brush are continually being developed to improve with lower friction and adhesion, as well as higher load-bearing capacities. To complement experimental studies, molecular simulations are increasingly being used to help to understand how polymer brushes reduce friction. In this paper, we review how molecular simulations of polymer brush friction have progressed from very simple coarse-grained models toward more detailed models that can capture the effects of brush topology and chemistry as well as electrostatic interactions for polyelectrolyte brushes. We pay particular attention to studies that have attempted to match experimental friction data of polymer brush bilayers to results obtained using molecular simulations. We also critically look at the remaining challenges and key limitations to overcome and propose future modifications that could potentially improve agreement with experimental studies, thus enabling molecular simulations to be used predictively to modify the brush structure for optimal friction reduction.
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32
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Vainikka P, Marrink SJ. Martini 3 Coarse-Grained Model for Second-Generation Unidirectional Molecular Motors and Switches. J Chem Theory Comput 2023; 19:596-604. [PMID: 36625495 PMCID: PMC9878727 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jctc.2c00796] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2022] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
Artificial molecular motors (MMs) and switches (MSs), capable of undergoing unidirectional rotation or switching under the appropriate stimuli, are being utilized in multiple complex and chemically diverse environments. Although thorough theoretical work utilizing QM and QM/MM methods have mapped out many of the critical properties of MSs and MMs, as the experimental setups become more complex and ambitious, there is an ever increasing need to study the behavior and dynamics of these molecules as they interact with their environment. To this end, we have parametrized two coarse-grained (CG) models of commonly used MMs and a model for an oxindole-based MS, which can be used to study the ground state behavior of MMs and MSs in large simulations for significantly longer periods of time. We also propose methods to perturb these systems which can allow users to approximate how such systems would respond to MMs rotating or the MSs switching.
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Affiliation(s)
- Petteri Vainikka
- Zernike
Institute for Advanced Materials, University
of Groningen, Nijenborgh
4, 9747 AGGroningen, The Netherlands
- Groningen
Biomolecular Sciences and Biotechnology Institute, University of Groningen, Nijenborgh 7, 9747 AGGroningen, The Netherlands
| | - Siewert J. Marrink
- Zernike
Institute for Advanced Materials, University
of Groningen, Nijenborgh
4, 9747 AGGroningen, The Netherlands
- Groningen
Biomolecular Sciences and Biotechnology Institute, University of Groningen, Nijenborgh 7, 9747 AGGroningen, The Netherlands
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33
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Corey RA, Baaden M, Chavent M. A brief history of visualizing membrane systems in molecular dynamics simulations. FRONTIERS IN BIOINFORMATICS 2023; 3:1149744. [PMID: 37213533 PMCID: PMC10196259 DOI: 10.3389/fbinf.2023.1149744] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2023] [Accepted: 03/13/2023] [Indexed: 05/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Understanding lipid dynamics and function, from the level of single, isolated molecules to large assemblies, is more than ever an intensive area of research. The interactions of lipids with other molecules, particularly membrane proteins, are now extensively studied. With advances in the development of force fields for molecular dynamics simulations (MD) and increases in computational resources, the creation of realistic and complex membrane systems is now common. In this perspective, we will review four decades of the history of molecular dynamics simulations applied to membranes and lipids through the prism of molecular graphics.
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Affiliation(s)
- R. A. Corey
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - M. Baaden
- Centre Nationale de la Recherche Scientifique, Laboratoire de Biochimie Théorique, Université Paris Cité, Paris, France
| | - M. Chavent
- Institut de Pharmacologie et Biologie Structurale, CNRS, Université de Toulouse, Toulouse, France
- *Correspondence: M. Chavent,
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34
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Petersen N, Girard M, Riedinger A, Valsson O. The Crucial Role of Solvation Forces in the Steric Stabilization of Nanoplatelets. NANO LETTERS 2022; 22:9847-9853. [PMID: 36493312 PMCID: PMC9801426 DOI: 10.1021/acs.nanolett.2c02848] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2022] [Revised: 12/02/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
The steric stability of inorganic colloidal particles in an apolar solvent is usually described in terms of the balance between three contributions: the van der Waals attraction, the free energy of mixing, and the ligand compression. However, in the case of nanoparticles, the discrete nature of the ligand shell and the solvent has to be taken into account. Cadmium selenide nanoplatelets are a special case. They combine a weak van der Waals attraction and a large facet to particle size ratio. We use coarse grained molecular dynamics simulations of nanoplatelets in octane to demonstrate that solvation forces are strong enough to induce the formation of nanoplatelet stacks and by that have a crucial impact on the steric stability. In particular, we demonstrate that for sufficiently large nanoplatelets, solvation forces are proportional to the interacting facet area, and their strength is intrinsically tied to the softness of the ligand shell.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nanning Petersen
- Max
Planck Institute for Polymer Research, Mainz D-55128, Germany
| | - Martin Girard
- Max
Planck Institute for Polymer Research, Mainz D-55128, Germany
| | | | - Omar Valsson
- Max
Planck Institute for Polymer Research, Mainz D-55128, Germany
- Department
of Chemistry, University of North Texas, Denton, Texas 76201, United States
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35
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Khan P, Kaushik R, Jayaraj A. Approaches and Perspective of Coarse-Grained Modeling and Simulation for Polymer-Nanoparticle Hybrid Systems. ACS OMEGA 2022; 7:47567-47586. [PMID: 36591142 PMCID: PMC9798744 DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.2c06248] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2022] [Accepted: 11/21/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Molecular modeling and simulations have emerged as effective and indispensable tools to characterize polymeric systems. They provide fundamental and essential insights to design a product of the required properties and to improve the understanding of a phenomenon at the molecular level for a particular system. The polymer-nanoparticle hybrids are materials with outstanding properties and correspondingly large applications whose study has benefited from this new paradigm. However, despite the significant expansion of modern day computational powers, investigation of the long time and large length scale phenomenon in polymeric and polymer-nanoparticle systems is still a challenging task to complete through all-atom molecular dynamics (AA-MD) simulations. To circumvent this problem, a variety of coarse-grained (CG) models have been proposed, ranging from the generic CG models for qualitative properties predictions to more realistic chemically specific CG models for quantitative properties predictions. These CG models have already delivered some success stories in the study of several spatial and temporal evolutions of many processes. Some of these studies were beyond the feasibility of traditional atomistic resolution models due to either the size or the time constraints. This review captures the different types of popular CG approaches that are utilized in the investigation of the microscopic behavior of polymer-nanoparticle hybrid systems. The rationale of this article is to furnish an overview of the popular CG approaches and their applications, to review several important and most recent developments, and to delineate the perspectives on future directions in the field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Parvez Khan
- Department
of Chemical Engineering, Aligarh Muslim
University, Aligarh202002, India
| | - Rahul Kaushik
- Laboratory
for Structural Bioinformatics, Center for Biosystems Dynamics Research, RIKEN, Yokohama, Kanagawa230-0045, Japan
| | - Abhilash Jayaraj
- Department
of Chemistry, Wesleyan University, Middletown, Connecticut06459, United States
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36
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Grünewald F, Punt MH, Jefferys EE, Vainikka PA, König M, Virtanen V, Meyer TA, Pezeshkian W, Gormley AJ, Karonen M, Sansom MSP, Souza PCT, Marrink SJ. Martini 3 Coarse-Grained Force Field for Carbohydrates. J Chem Theory Comput 2022; 18:7555-7569. [PMID: 36342474 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jctc.2c00757] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
The Martini 3 force field is a full reparametrization of the Martini coarse-grained model for biomolecular simulations. Due to the improved interaction balance, it allows for a more accurate description of condensed phase systems. In the present work, we develop a consistent strategy to parametrize carbohydrate molecules accurately within the framework of Martini 3. In particular, we develop a canonical mapping scheme which decomposes arbitrarily large carbohydrates into a limited number of fragments. Bead types for these fragments have been assigned by matching physicochemical properties of mono- and disaccharides. In addition, guidelines for assigning bonds, angles, and dihedrals were developed. These guidelines enable a more accurate description of carbohydrate conformations than in the Martini 2 force field. We show that models obtained with this approach are able to accurately reproduce osmotic pressures of carbohydrate water solutions. Furthermore, we provide evidence that the model differentiates correctly the solubility of the polyglucoses dextran (water-soluble) and cellulose (water insoluble but soluble in ionic liquids). Finally, we demonstrate that the new building blocks can be applied to glycolipids. We show they are able to reproduce membrane properties and induce binding of peripheral membrane proteins. These test cases demonstrate the validity and transferability of our approach.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fabian Grünewald
- Groningen Biomolecular Sciences and Biotechnology Institute and Zernike Institute for Advanced Materials, University of Groningen, Groningen 9747 AG, The Netherlands
| | - Mats H Punt
- Groningen Biomolecular Sciences and Biotechnology Institute and Zernike Institute for Advanced Materials, University of Groningen, Groningen 9747 AG, The Netherlands
| | - Elizabeth E Jefferys
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3QU, United Kingdom
| | - Petteri A Vainikka
- Groningen Biomolecular Sciences and Biotechnology Institute and Zernike Institute for Advanced Materials, University of Groningen, Groningen 9747 AG, The Netherlands
| | - Melanie König
- Groningen Biomolecular Sciences and Biotechnology Institute and Zernike Institute for Advanced Materials, University of Groningen, Groningen 9747 AG, The Netherlands
| | - Valtteri Virtanen
- Natural Chemistry Research Group, Department of Chemistry, University of Turku, FI-20014 Turku, Finland
| | - Travis A Meyer
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Piscataway, New Jersey 08854, United States
| | - Weria Pezeshkian
- Groningen Biomolecular Sciences and Biotechnology Institute and Zernike Institute for Advanced Materials, University of Groningen, Groningen 9747 AG, The Netherlands.,The Niels Bohr International Academy, Niels Bohr Institute, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen 2100, Denmark
| | - Adam J Gormley
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Piscataway, New Jersey 08854, United States
| | - Maarit Karonen
- Natural Chemistry Research Group, Department of Chemistry, University of Turku, FI-20014 Turku, Finland
| | - Mark S P Sansom
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3QU, United Kingdom
| | - Paulo C T Souza
- Molecular Microbiology and Structural Biochemistry, UMR 5086 CNRS and University of Lyon, Lyon 69367, France
| | - Siewert J Marrink
- Groningen Biomolecular Sciences and Biotechnology Institute and Zernike Institute for Advanced Materials, University of Groningen, Groningen 9747 AG, The Netherlands
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37
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Paloncýová M, Pykal M, Kührová P, Banáš P, Šponer J, Otyepka M. Computer Aided Development of Nucleic Acid Applications in Nanotechnologies. SMALL (WEINHEIM AN DER BERGSTRASSE, GERMANY) 2022; 18:e2204408. [PMID: 36216589 DOI: 10.1002/smll.202204408] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2022] [Revised: 09/12/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Utilization of nucleic acids (NAs) in nanotechnologies and nanotechnology-related applications is a growing field with broad application potential, ranging from biosensing up to targeted cell delivery. Computer simulations are useful techniques that can aid design and speed up development in this field. This review focuses on computer simulations of hybrid nanomaterials composed of NAs and other components. Current state-of-the-art molecular dynamics simulations, empirical force fields (FFs), and coarse-grained approaches for the description of deoxyribonucleic acid and ribonucleic acid are critically discussed. Challenges in combining biomacromolecular and nanomaterial FFs are emphasized. Recent applications of simulations for modeling NAs and their interactions with nano- and biomaterials are overviewed in the fields of sensing applications, targeted delivery, and NA templated materials. Future perspectives of development are also highlighted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Markéta Paloncýová
- Regional Center of Advanced Technologies and Materials, The Czech Advanced Technology and Research Institute (CATRIN), Palacký University Olomouc, Šlechtitelů 27, Olomouc, 779 00, Czech Republic
| | - Martin Pykal
- Regional Center of Advanced Technologies and Materials, The Czech Advanced Technology and Research Institute (CATRIN), Palacký University Olomouc, Šlechtitelů 27, Olomouc, 779 00, Czech Republic
| | - Petra Kührová
- Regional Center of Advanced Technologies and Materials, The Czech Advanced Technology and Research Institute (CATRIN), Palacký University Olomouc, Šlechtitelů 27, Olomouc, 779 00, Czech Republic
| | - Pavel Banáš
- Regional Center of Advanced Technologies and Materials, The Czech Advanced Technology and Research Institute (CATRIN), Palacký University Olomouc, Šlechtitelů 27, Olomouc, 779 00, Czech Republic
| | - Jiří Šponer
- Regional Center of Advanced Technologies and Materials, The Czech Advanced Technology and Research Institute (CATRIN), Palacký University Olomouc, Šlechtitelů 27, Olomouc, 779 00, Czech Republic
- Institute of Biophysics of the Czech Academy of Sciences, v. v. i., Královopolská 135, Brno, 612 65, Czech Republic
| | - Michal Otyepka
- Regional Center of Advanced Technologies and Materials, The Czech Advanced Technology and Research Institute (CATRIN), Palacký University Olomouc, Šlechtitelů 27, Olomouc, 779 00, Czech Republic
- IT4Innovations, VŠB - Technical University of Ostrava, 17. listopadu 2172/15, Ostrava-Poruba, 708 00, Czech Republic
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38
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Bordonhos M, Galvão TLP, Gomes JRB, Gouveia JD, Jorge M, Lourenço MAO, Pereira JM, Pérez‐Sánchez G, Pinto ML, Silva CM, Tedim J, Zêzere B. Multiscale Computational Approaches toward the Understanding of Materials. ADVANCED THEORY AND SIMULATIONS 2022. [DOI: 10.1002/adts.202200628] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Marta Bordonhos
- CICECO ‐ Aveiro Institute of Materials Department of Chemistry University of Aveiro Campus Universitário de Santiago Aveiro 3810‐193 Portugal
- CERENA, Department of Chemical Engineering Instituto Superior Técnico University of Lisbon Avenida Rovisco Pais, No. 1 Lisbon 1049‐001 Portugal
| | - Tiago L. P. Galvão
- CICECO ‐ Aveiro Institute of Materials Department of Materials and Ceramic Engineering University of Aveiro Campus Universitário de Santiago Aveiro 3810‐193 Portugal
| | - José R. B. Gomes
- CICECO ‐ Aveiro Institute of Materials Department of Chemistry University of Aveiro Campus Universitário de Santiago Aveiro 3810‐193 Portugal
| | - José D. Gouveia
- CICECO ‐ Aveiro Institute of Materials Department of Chemistry University of Aveiro Campus Universitário de Santiago Aveiro 3810‐193 Portugal
| | - Miguel Jorge
- Department of Chemical and Process Engineering University of Strathclyde 75 Montrose Street Glasgow G1 1XJ UK
| | - Mirtha A. O. Lourenço
- CICECO ‐ Aveiro Institute of Materials Department of Chemistry University of Aveiro Campus Universitário de Santiago Aveiro 3810‐193 Portugal
| | - José M. Pereira
- CICECO ‐ Aveiro Institute of Materials Department of Chemistry University of Aveiro Campus Universitário de Santiago Aveiro 3810‐193 Portugal
| | - Germán Pérez‐Sánchez
- CICECO ‐ Aveiro Institute of Materials Department of Chemistry University of Aveiro Campus Universitário de Santiago Aveiro 3810‐193 Portugal
| | - Moisés L. Pinto
- CERENA, Department of Chemical Engineering Instituto Superior Técnico University of Lisbon Avenida Rovisco Pais, No. 1 Lisbon 1049‐001 Portugal
| | - Carlos M. Silva
- CICECO ‐ Aveiro Institute of Materials Department of Chemistry University of Aveiro Campus Universitário de Santiago Aveiro 3810‐193 Portugal
| | - João Tedim
- CICECO ‐ Aveiro Institute of Materials Department of Materials and Ceramic Engineering University of Aveiro Campus Universitário de Santiago Aveiro 3810‐193 Portugal
| | - Bruno Zêzere
- CICECO ‐ Aveiro Institute of Materials Department of Chemistry University of Aveiro Campus Universitário de Santiago Aveiro 3810‐193 Portugal
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39
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Cambiaso S, Rasera F, Rossi G, Bochicchio D. Development of a transferable coarse-grained model of polydimethylsiloxane. SOFT MATTER 2022; 18:7887-7896. [PMID: 36206016 DOI: 10.1039/d2sm00939k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) is a popular silicon-based polymer with advanced applications in microfluidics and nanocomposites. The slow dynamics of polymer chains in such complex systems hinders molecular dynamics investigations based on all atom force fields. This limitation can be overcome by exploiting finely tuned coarse-grained (CG) models. This paper develops a transferable CG model of PDMS, compatible with the recent Martini 3 force field, using structural and thermodynamic properties as targets in the parametrization, including a vast set of experimental free energies of transfer. We validate the model transferability by reproducing the correct scaling laws for the PDMS gyration radius in the melt and good and bad solvents. We successfully test the model by reproducing the wetting behavior of water and acetonitrile on PDMS and the phase behavior of a PDMS-peptide triblock copolymer system. This work sets the stage for computational studies involving the interaction between PDMS and many synthetic and biological molecules modeled within the Martini framework.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sonia Cambiaso
- Physics Department, University of Genoa, Via Dodecaneso 33, 16146 Genoa, Italy.
| | - Fabio Rasera
- Dept of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, University of Rome La Sapienza, Via Eudossiana 18, 00184 Rome, Italy
| | - Giulia Rossi
- Physics Department, University of Genoa, Via Dodecaneso 33, 16146 Genoa, Italy.
| | - Davide Bochicchio
- Physics Department, University of Genoa, Via Dodecaneso 33, 16146 Genoa, Italy.
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40
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Shah S, Famta P, Bagasariya D, Charankumar K, Amulya E, Kumar Khatri D, Singh Raghuvanshi R, Bala Singh S, Srivastava S. Nanotechnology based drug delivery systems: Does shape really matter? Int J Pharm 2022; 625:122101. [PMID: 35961415 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpharm.2022.122101] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2022] [Revised: 08/01/2022] [Accepted: 08/05/2022] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
As of today, the era of nanomedicine has brought numerous breakthroughs and overcome challenges in the treatment of various disorders. Various factors like size, charge and surface hydrophilicity have garnered significant attention by nanotechnologists. However, more exploration in the field of nanoparticle shape and geometry, one of the basic physical phenomenon is required. Tuning nanoparticle shape and geometry could potentially overcome pitfalls in therapeutics and biomedical fields. Thus, in this article, we unveil the importance of tuning nanoparticle shape selection across the delivery platforms. This article provides an in-depth understanding of nanoparticle shape modulation and advise the researchers on the ideal morphology selection tailored for each implication. We deliberated the importance of nanoparticle shape selection for specific implications with respect to organ targeting, cellular internalization, pharmacokinetics and bio-distribution, protein corona formation as well as RES evasion and tumor targeting. An additional section on the significance of shape transformation, a recently introduced novel avenue with applications in drug delivery was discussed. Furthermore, regulatory concerns towards nanoparticle shape which need to be addressed for harnessing their clinical translation will be explained.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saurabh Shah
- Department of Pharmaceutics, National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPER), Hyderabad, India
| | - Paras Famta
- Department of Pharmaceutics, National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPER), Hyderabad, India
| | - Deepkumar Bagasariya
- Department of Pharmaceutics, National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPER), Hyderabad, India
| | - Kondasingh Charankumar
- Department of Pharmaceutics, National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPER), Hyderabad, India
| | - Etikala Amulya
- Department of Pharmaceutics, National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPER), Hyderabad, India
| | - Dharmendra Kumar Khatri
- Department of Biological Sciences, National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPER), Hyderabad, India
| | - Rajeev Singh Raghuvanshi
- Indian Pharmacopoeia Commission, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Government of India, India
| | - Shashi Bala Singh
- Department of Biological Sciences, National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPER), Hyderabad, India
| | - Saurabh Srivastava
- Department of Pharmaceutics, National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPER), Hyderabad, India.
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41
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López CA, Zhang X, Aydin F, Shrestha R, Van QN, Stanley CB, Carpenter TS, Nguyen K, Patel LA, Chen D, Burns V, Hengartner NW, Reddy TJE, Bhatia H, Di Natale F, Tran TH, Chan AH, Simanshu DK, Nissley DV, Streitz FH, Stephen AG, Turbyville TJ, Lightstone FC, Gnanakaran S, Ingólfsson HI, Neale C. Asynchronous Reciprocal Coupling of Martini 2.2 Coarse-Grained and CHARMM36 All-Atom Simulations in an Automated Multiscale Framework. J Chem Theory Comput 2022; 18:5025-5045. [PMID: 35866871 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jctc.2c00168] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
The appeal of multiscale modeling approaches is predicated on the promise of combinatorial synergy. However, this promise can only be realized when distinct scales are combined with reciprocal consistency. Here, we consider multiscale molecular dynamics (MD) simulations that combine the accuracy and macromolecular flexibility accessible to fixed-charge all-atom (AA) representations with the sampling speed accessible to reductive, coarse-grained (CG) representations. AA-to-CG conversions are relatively straightforward because deterministic routines with unique outcomes are achievable. Conversely, CG-to-AA conversions have many solutions due to a surge in the number of degrees of freedom. While automated tools for biomolecular CG-to-AA transformation exist, we find that one popular option, called Backward, is prone to stochastic failure and the AA models that it does generate frequently have compromised protein structure and incorrect stereochemistry. Although these shortcomings can likely be circumvented by human intervention in isolated instances, automated multiscale coupling requires reliable and robust scale conversion. Here, we detail an extension to Multiscale Machine-learned Modeling Infrastructure (MuMMI), including an improved CG-to-AA conversion tool called sinceCG. This tool is reliable (∼98% weakly correlated repeat success rate), automatable (no unrecoverable hangs), and yields AA models that generally preserve protein secondary structure and maintain correct stereochemistry. We describe how the MuMMI framework identifies CG system configurations of interest, converts them to AA representations, and simulates them at the AA scale while on-the-fly analyses provide feedback to update CG parameters. Application to systems containing the peripheral membrane protein RAS and proximal components of RAF kinase on complex eight-component lipid bilayers with ∼1.5 million atoms is discussed in the context of MuMMI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cesar A López
- Theoretical Biology and Biophysics, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, New Mexico 87545, United States
| | - Xiaohua Zhang
- Physical and Life Sciences Directorate, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, California 94550, United States
| | - Fikret Aydin
- Physical and Life Sciences Directorate, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, California 94550, United States
| | - Rebika Shrestha
- NCI RAS Initiative, Cancer Research Technology Program, Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, Frederick, Maryland 21701, United States
| | - Que N Van
- NCI RAS Initiative, Cancer Research Technology Program, Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, Frederick, Maryland 21701, United States
| | - Christopher B Stanley
- Computational Sciences and Engineering Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tennessee 37830, United States
| | - Timothy S Carpenter
- Physical and Life Sciences Directorate, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, California 94550, United States
| | - Kien Nguyen
- Theoretical Biology and Biophysics, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, New Mexico 87545, United States
| | - Lara A Patel
- Theoretical Biology and Biophysics, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, New Mexico 87545, United States.,Center for Nonlinear Studies, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, New Mexico 87545, United States
| | - De Chen
- NCI RAS Initiative, Cancer Research Technology Program, Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, Frederick, Maryland 21701, United States
| | - Violetta Burns
- Theoretical Biology and Biophysics, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, New Mexico 87545, United States
| | - Nicolas W Hengartner
- Theoretical Biology and Biophysics, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, New Mexico 87545, United States
| | - Tyler J E Reddy
- Theoretical Biology and Biophysics, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, New Mexico 87545, United States
| | - Harsh Bhatia
- Computing Directorate, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, California 94550, United States
| | - Francesco Di Natale
- Computing Directorate, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, California 94550, United States
| | - Timothy H Tran
- NCI RAS Initiative, Cancer Research Technology Program, Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, Frederick, Maryland 21701, United States
| | - Albert H Chan
- NCI RAS Initiative, Cancer Research Technology Program, Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, Frederick, Maryland 21701, United States
| | - Dhirendra K Simanshu
- NCI RAS Initiative, Cancer Research Technology Program, Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, Frederick, Maryland 21701, United States
| | - Dwight V Nissley
- NCI RAS Initiative, Cancer Research Technology Program, Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, Frederick, Maryland 21701, United States
| | - Frederick H Streitz
- Physical and Life Sciences Directorate, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, California 94550, United States
| | - Andrew G Stephen
- NCI RAS Initiative, Cancer Research Technology Program, Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, Frederick, Maryland 21701, United States
| | - Thomas J Turbyville
- NCI RAS Initiative, Cancer Research Technology Program, Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, Frederick, Maryland 21701, United States
| | - Felice C Lightstone
- Physical and Life Sciences Directorate, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, California 94550, United States
| | - Sandrasegaram Gnanakaran
- Theoretical Biology and Biophysics, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, New Mexico 87545, United States
| | - Helgi I Ingólfsson
- Physical and Life Sciences Directorate, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, California 94550, United States
| | - Chris Neale
- Theoretical Biology and Biophysics, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, New Mexico 87545, United States
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42
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Patmanidis I, Souza PCT, Sami S, Havenith RWA, de Vries AH, Marrink SJ. Modelling structural properties of cyanine dye nanotubes at coarse-grained level. NANOSCALE ADVANCES 2022; 4:3033-3042. [PMID: 36133510 PMCID: PMC9419059 DOI: 10.1039/d2na00158f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2022] [Accepted: 06/12/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Self-assembly is a ubiquitous process spanning from biomolecular aggregates to nanomaterials. Even though the resulting aggregates can be studied through experimental techniques, the dynamic pathways of the process and the molecular details of the final structures are not necessarily easy to resolve. Consequently, rational design of self-assembling aggregates and their properties remains extremely challenging. At the same time, modelling the self-assembly with computational methods is not trivial, because its spatio-temporal scales are usually beyond the limits of all-atom based simulations. The use of coarse-grained (CG) models can alleviate this limitation, but usually suffers from the lack of optimised parameters for the molecular constituents. In this work, we describe the procedure of parametrizing a CG Martini model for a cyanine dye (C8S3) that self-assembles into hollow double-walled nanotubes. First, we optimised the model based on quantum mechanics calculations and all-atom reference simulations, in combination with available experimental data. Then, we conducted random self-assembly simulations, and the performance of our model was tested on preformed assemblies. Our simulations provide information on the time-dependent local arrangement of this cyanine dye, when aggregates are being formed. Furthermore, we provide guidelines for designing and optimising parameters for similar self-assembling nanomaterials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ilias Patmanidis
- Groningen Biomolecular Science and Biotechnology Institute, University of Groningen Nijenborgh 7 Groningen 9747 AG the Netherlands
- Zernike Institute for Advanced Materials, University of Groningen Nijenborgh 4 Groningen 9747 AG The Netherlands
| | - Paulo C T Souza
- Molecular Microbiology and Structural Biochemistry, UMR 5086 CNRS and University of Lyon Lyon France
| | - Selim Sami
- Groningen Biomolecular Science and Biotechnology Institute, University of Groningen Nijenborgh 7 Groningen 9747 AG the Netherlands
- Zernike Institute for Advanced Materials, University of Groningen Nijenborgh 4 Groningen 9747 AG The Netherlands
- Stratingh Institute for Chemistry, University of Groningen Nijenborgh 4 Groningen 9747 AG The Netherlands
| | - Remco W A Havenith
- Zernike Institute for Advanced Materials, University of Groningen Nijenborgh 4 Groningen 9747 AG The Netherlands
- Stratingh Institute for Chemistry, University of Groningen Nijenborgh 4 Groningen 9747 AG The Netherlands
- Ghent Quantum Chemistry Group, Department of Chemistry, Ghent University Krijgslaan 281 (S3) B-9000 Gent Belgium
| | - Alex H de Vries
- Groningen Biomolecular Science and Biotechnology Institute, University of Groningen Nijenborgh 7 Groningen 9747 AG the Netherlands
- Zernike Institute for Advanced Materials, University of Groningen Nijenborgh 4 Groningen 9747 AG The Netherlands
| | - Siewert J Marrink
- Groningen Biomolecular Science and Biotechnology Institute, University of Groningen Nijenborgh 7 Groningen 9747 AG the Netherlands
- Zernike Institute for Advanced Materials, University of Groningen Nijenborgh 4 Groningen 9747 AG The Netherlands
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43
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Gardin A, Perego C, Doni G, Pavan GM. Classifying soft self-assembled materials via unsupervised machine learning of defects. Commun Chem 2022; 5:82. [PMID: 36697761 PMCID: PMC9814741 DOI: 10.1038/s42004-022-00699-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2021] [Accepted: 06/29/2022] [Indexed: 01/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Unlike molecular crystals, soft self-assembled fibers, micelles, vesicles, etc., exhibit a certain order in the arrangement of their constitutive monomers but also high structural dynamicity and variability. Defects and disordered local domains that continuously form-and-repair in their structures impart to such materials unique adaptive and dynamical properties, which make them, e.g., capable to communicate with each other. However, objective criteria to compare such complex dynamical features and to classify soft supramolecular materials are non-trivial to attain. Here we show a data-driven workflow allowing us to achieve this goal. Building on unsupervised clustering of Smooth Overlap of Atomic Position (SOAP) data obtained from equilibrium molecular dynamics simulations, we can compare a variety of soft supramolecular assemblies via a robust SOAP metric. This provides us with a data-driven "defectometer" to classify different types of supramolecular materials based on the structural dynamics of the ordered/disordered local molecular environments that statistically emerge within them.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Gardin
- Department of Applied Science and Technology, Politecnico di Torino, Torino, Italy
| | - Claudio Perego
- Department of Innovative Technologies, University of Applied Sciences and Arts of Southern Switzerland, Lugano-Viganello, Switzerland
| | - Giovanni Doni
- Department of Innovative Technologies, University of Applied Sciences and Arts of Southern Switzerland, Lugano-Viganello, Switzerland
| | - Giovanni M Pavan
- Department of Applied Science and Technology, Politecnico di Torino, Torino, Italy. .,Department of Innovative Technologies, University of Applied Sciences and Arts of Southern Switzerland, Lugano-Viganello, Switzerland.
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44
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Magi Meconi G, Sasselli IR, Bianco V, Onuchic JN, Coluzza I. Key aspects of the past 30 years of protein design. REPORTS ON PROGRESS IN PHYSICS. PHYSICAL SOCIETY (GREAT BRITAIN) 2022; 85:086601. [PMID: 35704983 DOI: 10.1088/1361-6633/ac78ef] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2021] [Accepted: 06/15/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Proteins are the workhorse of life. They are the building infrastructure of living systems; they are the most efficient molecular machines known, and their enzymatic activity is still unmatched in versatility by any artificial system. Perhaps proteins' most remarkable feature is their modularity. The large amount of information required to specify each protein's function is analogically encoded with an alphabet of just ∼20 letters. The protein folding problem is how to encode all such information in a sequence of 20 letters. In this review, we go through the last 30 years of research to summarize the state of the art and highlight some applications related to fundamental problems of protein evolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giulia Magi Meconi
- Computational Biophysics Lab, Center for Cooperative Research in Biomaterials (CIC biomaGUNE), Basque Research and Technology Alliance (BRTA), Paseo de Miramon 182, 20014, Donostia-San Sebastián, Spain
| | - Ivan R Sasselli
- Computational Biophysics Lab, Center for Cooperative Research in Biomaterials (CIC biomaGUNE), Basque Research and Technology Alliance (BRTA), Paseo de Miramon 182, 20014, Donostia-San Sebastián, Spain
| | | | - Jose N Onuchic
- Center for Theoretical Biological Physics, Department of Physics & Astronomy, Department of Chemistry, Department of Biosciences, Rice University, Houston, TX 77251, United States of America
| | - Ivan Coluzza
- BCMaterials, Basque Center for Materials, Applications and Nanostructures, Bld. Martina Casiano, UPV/EHU Science Park, Barrio Sarriena s/n, 48940 Leioa, Spain
- Basque Foundation for Science, Ikerbasque, 48009, Bilbao, Spain
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45
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Marrink SJ, Monticelli L, Melo MN, Alessandri R, Tieleman DP, Souza PCT. Two decades of Martini: Better beads, broader scope. WIRES COMPUTATIONAL MOLECULAR SCIENCE 2022. [DOI: 10.1002/wcms.1620] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Siewert J. Marrink
- Groningen Biomolecular Sciences and Biotechnology Institute & Zernike Institute for Advanced Materials University of Groningen Groningen The Netherlands
| | - Luca Monticelli
- Molecular Microbiology and Structural Biochemistry (MMSB ‐ UMR 5086) CNRS & University of Lyon Lyon France
| | - Manuel N. Melo
- Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica António Xavier, Universidade Nova de Lisboa Oeiras Portugal
| | - Riccardo Alessandri
- Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering University of Chicago Chicago Illinois USA
| | - D. Peter Tieleman
- Centre for Molecular Simulation and Department of Biological Sciences University of Calgary Alberta Canada
| | - Paulo C. T. Souza
- Molecular Microbiology and Structural Biochemistry (MMSB ‐ UMR 5086) CNRS & University of Lyon Lyon France
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46
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Wei W, Chen X, Wang X. Nanopore Sensing Technique for Studying the Hofmeister Effect. SMALL (WEINHEIM AN DER BERGSTRASSE, GERMANY) 2022; 18:e2200921. [PMID: 35484475 DOI: 10.1002/smll.202200921] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2022] [Revised: 03/22/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
The nanopore sensing technique is an emerging method of detecting single molecules, and extensive research has gone into various fields, including nanopore sequencing and other applications of single-molecule studies. Recently, several researchers have explored the specific ion effects in nanopore channels, enabling a unique understanding of the Hofmeister effect at the single-molecule level. Herein, the recent advances of using nanopore sensing techniques are reviewed to study the Hofmeister effect and the physicochemical mechanism of this process is attempted. The challenges and goals are also discussed for the future in this field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weichen Wei
- Department of Nanoengineering, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA
| | - Xiaojuan Chen
- Department of Nanoengineering, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA
| | - Xuejiao Wang
- Fujian Provincial University Engineering Research Center of Industrial Biocatalysis, College of Chemistry and Materials Science, Fujian Normal University, Fuzhou, 350007, China
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47
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Molecular communications in complex systems of dynamic supramolecular polymers. Nat Commun 2022; 13:2162. [PMID: 35443756 PMCID: PMC9021206 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-29804-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2021] [Accepted: 03/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Supramolecular polymers are composed of monomers that self-assemble non-covalently, generating distributions of monodimensional fibres in continuous communication with each other and with the surrounding solution. Fibres, exchanging molecular species, and external environment constitute a sole complex system, which intrinsic dynamics is hard to elucidate. Here we report coarse-grained molecular simulations that allow studying supramolecular polymers at the thermodynamic equilibrium, explicitly showing the complex nature of these systems, which are composed of exquisitely dynamic molecular entities. Detailed studies of molecular exchange provide insights into key factors controlling how assemblies communicate with each other, defining the equilibrium dynamics of the system. Using minimalistic and finer chemically relevant molecular models, we observe that a rich concerted complexity is intrinsic in such self-assembling systems. This offers a new dynamic and probabilistic (rather than structural) picture of supramolecular polymer systems, where the travelling molecular species continuously shape the assemblies that statistically emerge at the equilibrium. The dynamic structure of supramolecular polymers is challenging to determine both in experiments and in simulations. Here the authors use coarse-grained molecular models to provide a comprehensive analysis of the molecular communication in these complex molecular systems.
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Weiand E, Ewen JP, Koenig PH, Roiter Y, Page SH, Angioletti-Uberti S, Dini D. Coarse-grained molecular models of the surface of hair. SOFT MATTER 2022; 18:1779-1792. [PMID: 35112700 DOI: 10.1039/d1sm01720a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
We present a coarse-grained molecular model of the surface of human hair, which consists of a supported lipid monolayer, in the MARTINI framework. Using coarse-grained molecular dynamics (MD) simulations, we identify a lipid grafting distance that yields a monolayer thickness consistent with both atomistic MD simulations and experimental measurements of the hair surface. Coarse-grained models for fully-functionalised, partially damaged, and fully damaged hair surfaces are created by randomly replacing neutral thioesters with anionic sulfonate groups. This mimics the progressive removal of fatty acids from the hair surface by bleaching and leads to chemically heterogeneous surfaces. Using molecular dynamics (MD) simulations, we study the island structures formed by the lipid monolayers at different degrees of damage in vacuum and in the presence of polar (water) and non-polar (n-hexadecane) solvents. We also use MD simulations to compare the wetting behaviour of water and n-hexadecane droplets on the model surfaces through contact angle measurements, which are compared to experiments using virgin and bleached hair. The model surfaces capture the experimentally-observed transition of the hair surface from hydrophobic (and oleophilic) to hydrophilic (and oleophobic) as the level of bleaching damage increases. By selecting surfaces with specific damage ratios, we obtain contact angles from the MD simulations that are in good agreement with experiments for both solvents on virgin and bleached human hairs. To negate the possible effects of microscale curvature and roughness of real hairs on wetting, we also conduct additional experiments using biomimetic surfaces that are co-functionalised with fatty acids and sulfonate groups. In both the MD simulations and experiments, the cosine of the water contact angle increases linearly with the sulfonate group surface coverage with a similar slope. We expect that the proposed systems will be useful for future molecular dynamics simulations of the adsorption and tribological behaviour of hair, as well as other chemically heterogeneous surfaces.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erik Weiand
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Imperial College London, South Kensington Campus, SW7 2AZ London, UK.
- Institute of Molecular Science and Engineering, Imperial College London, South Kensington Campus, SW7 2AZ London, UK
- Thomas Young Centre for the Theory and Simulation of Materials, Imperial College London, South Kensington Campus, SW7 2AZ London, UK
| | - James P Ewen
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Imperial College London, South Kensington Campus, SW7 2AZ London, UK.
- Institute of Molecular Science and Engineering, Imperial College London, South Kensington Campus, SW7 2AZ London, UK
- Thomas Young Centre for the Theory and Simulation of Materials, Imperial College London, South Kensington Campus, SW7 2AZ London, UK
| | - Peter H Koenig
- Corporate Functions Analytical and Data & Modeling Sciences, Mason Business Center, The Procter and Gamble Company, Cincinnati, 45224 Ohio, USA
| | - Yuri Roiter
- Corporate Functions Analytical and Data & Modeling Sciences, Mason Business Center, The Procter and Gamble Company, Cincinnati, 45224 Ohio, USA
| | - Steven H Page
- Corporate Functions Analytical and Data & Modeling Sciences, Mason Business Center, The Procter and Gamble Company, Cincinnati, 45224 Ohio, USA
| | - Stefano Angioletti-Uberti
- Institute of Molecular Science and Engineering, Imperial College London, South Kensington Campus, SW7 2AZ London, UK
- Thomas Young Centre for the Theory and Simulation of Materials, Imperial College London, South Kensington Campus, SW7 2AZ London, UK
- Department of Materials, Imperial College London, South Kensington Campus, SW7 2AZ London, UK
| | - Daniele Dini
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Imperial College London, South Kensington Campus, SW7 2AZ London, UK.
- Institute of Molecular Science and Engineering, Imperial College London, South Kensington Campus, SW7 2AZ London, UK
- Thomas Young Centre for the Theory and Simulation of Materials, Imperial College London, South Kensington Campus, SW7 2AZ London, UK
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Li S, Cui R, Yu C, Zhou Y. Coarse-Grained Model of Thiol-Epoxy-Based Alternating Copolymers in Explicit Solvents. J Phys Chem B 2022; 126:1830-1841. [PMID: 35179028 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcb.1c09406] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
The cosolvent method has been widely used in the self-assembly of amphiphilic alternating copolymers (ACPs), but the role of good and selective solvents is rarely investigated. Here, we have developed a coarse-grained (CG) model for the widely studied thiol-epoxy-based amphiphilic ACPs and a three-bead CG model for tetrahydrofuran (THF) as the good solvent, which is compatible with the MARTINI water model. The accuracy of both the CG polymer and THF models was validated by reproducing the structural and thermodynamic properties obtained from experiments or atomistic simulation results. Density in bulk, the radius of gyration, and solvation free energy in water or THF showed a good agreement between CG and atomistic models. The CG models were further employed to explore the self-assembly of ACPs in THF/water mixtures with different compositions. Chain folding and liquid-liquid phase separation behaviors were found with increasing water fractions, which were the key steps of the self-assembly process. This work will provide a basic platform to explore the self-assembly of amphiphilic ACPs in solvent mixtures and to reveal the real role of different solvents in self-assembly.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shanlong Li
- School of Chemistry & Chemical Engineering, Frontiers Science Center for Transformative Molecules, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Rui Cui
- School of Chemistry & Chemical Engineering, Frontiers Science Center for Transformative Molecules, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Chunyang Yu
- School of Chemistry & Chemical Engineering, Frontiers Science Center for Transformative Molecules, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Yongfeng Zhou
- School of Chemistry & Chemical Engineering, Frontiers Science Center for Transformative Molecules, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
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Grünewald F, Alessandri R, Kroon PC, Monticelli L, Souza PCT, Marrink SJ. Polyply; a python suite for facilitating simulations of macromolecules and nanomaterials. Nat Commun 2022; 13:68. [PMID: 35013176 PMCID: PMC8748707 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-27627-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2021] [Accepted: 11/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Molecular dynamics simulations play an increasingly important role in the rational design of (nano)-materials and in the study of biomacromolecules. However, generating input files and realistic starting coordinates for these simulations is a major bottleneck, especially for high throughput protocols and for complex multi-component systems. To eliminate this bottleneck, we present the polyply software suite that provides 1) a multi-scale graph matching algorithm designed to generate parameters quickly and for arbitrarily complex polymeric topologies, and 2) a generic multi-scale random walk protocol capable of setting up complex systems efficiently and independent of the target force-field or model resolution. We benchmark quality and performance of the approach by creating realistic coordinates for polymer melt simulations, single-stranded as well as circular single-stranded DNA. We further demonstrate the power of our approach by setting up a microphase-separated block copolymer system, and by generating a liquid-liquid phase separated system inside a lipid vesicle.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fabian Grünewald
- Groningen Biomolecular Sciences and Biotechnology Institute and Zernike Institute for Advanced Materials, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Riccardo Alessandri
- Groningen Biomolecular Sciences and Biotechnology Institute and Zernike Institute for Advanced Materials, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
- Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, 60637, USA
| | - Peter C Kroon
- Groningen Biomolecular Sciences and Biotechnology Institute and Zernike Institute for Advanced Materials, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Luca Monticelli
- Molecular Microbiology and Structural Biochemistry, UMR 5086 CNRS and University of Lyon, Lyon, France
| | - Paulo C T Souza
- Molecular Microbiology and Structural Biochemistry, UMR 5086 CNRS and University of Lyon, Lyon, France
| | - Siewert J Marrink
- Groningen Biomolecular Sciences and Biotechnology Institute and Zernike Institute for Advanced Materials, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands.
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