title: Quantification and visualization of molecular surface flexibility.
abstract: Two new methods for the quantification and visualization of the flexibility of molecular surfaces are presented. Both methods rely on results of molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. Whereas method I is based on a simple but fast grid-counting algorithm, method II uses a mapping function that allows for a sharp and clear visualization of atomic RMS fluctuations on a molecular surface. To demonstrate the scope of the methods, MD simulations of two proteins, PTI and ubiquitin, were performed. The flexibility data are mapped onto the molecular surfaces of the proteins and visualized using texture mapping technology available on modern workstations.
authors.affiliation: Institut für Physikalische Chemie, Technische Hochschule Darmstadt, Germany.
authors.forename: C D
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: Zachmann
authors.forename: S M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Kast
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Brickmann
mesh_terms: D000465:Algorithms; D000818:Animals; D007611:Aprotinin / Q000737:chemistry; D002417:Cattle; D055598:Chemical Phenomena; D002627:Chemistry, Physical; D003196:Computer Graphics; D003198:Computer Simulation; D008958:Models, Molecular; D009038:Motion; D011487:Protein Conformation; D014452:Ubiquitins / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D014452:Ubiquitins; D007611:Aprotinin