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Complex Enzymatic Reactions


EMSL Project ID
20896

Abstract

This proposal seeks computational resources for the continued development and application of modeling capabilities for the study of complex enzymatic reactions, in particular those that involve proton transfer steps, and novel free energy methodologies for enzymatic design. Understanding of the molecular-level processes, including proton transfer steps in long-time conformational protein dynamical processes as well as the rational design of enzymes with improved specificity requires extending computational tools and techniques beyond what is currently available. The primary approach is that of new developments in the QHOP and DFTB methodologies which will be implemented as new capabilities of NWChem. The second approach deals with a novel application of free-energy perturbation techniques. Both approaches will involve design and implementation of a meta-simulation engine that controls the launch and analysis of individual MD trajectories.

Project Details

Project type
Capability Research
Start Date
2006-10-31
End Date
2009-09-30
Status
Closed

Team

Principal Investigator

Volkhard Helms
Institution
Universitat des Saarlandes

Team Members

Diego Gomes
Institution
Instituto de Biofisica Carlos Chagas Filho

Markus Elstner
Institution
Technical University Braunschweig

David Apiyo
Institution
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory

Thereza Soares Da Silva
Institution
Universidade Federal de Pernambuco

Wei Gu
Institution
Universitat des Saarlandes

Elena Herzog
Institution
Max Planck Institute of Biophysics

Hartmut Michel
Institution
Max Planck Institute of Biophysics

T. Straatsma
Institution
Oak Ridge National Laboratory

Related Publications

Gomes DE, RD Lins, PG Pascutti, TP Straatsma, and TA Soares. 2008. "Molecular Models to Emulate Confinement Effects on the Internal Dynamics of Organophosphorous Hydrolase." In Lecture Notes in Computer Science: Advances in Bioinformatics and Computational Biology, Third Brazilian Symposium on Bioinformatics, BSB 2008, Santo André, Brazil, August 28-30, 2008. Proceedings, vol. 5167, ed. S. Istrail, P. Pevzner, and M.Waterman, pp. 68-78. Springer, New York, NY. doi:10.1007/978-3-540-85557-6_7
Gu W, and VH Helms. 2007. "Different Protonation Equilibria of 4-Methylimidazole and Acetic Acid." Chemphyschem 8(17):2445-2451. doi:10.1002/cphc.200700442
Lei C, TA Soares, Y Shin, J Liu, and EJ Ackerman. 2008. "Enzyme Specific Activity in Functionalized Nanoporous Supports." Nanotechnology 19(12):Art. No. 125102. doi:10.1088/0957-4484/19/12/125102
Soares TA, MA Osman, and T Straatsma. 2007. "Molecular Dynamics of Organophosphorous Hydrolases Bound to the Nerve Agent Soman." Journal of Chemical Theory and Computation 3(4):1569-1579.