Competing adsorption between hydrated peptides and water onto metal surfaces: from electronic to conformational properties.
Inorganic-(bio)organic interfaces are of central importance in many fields of current research. Theoretical and computational tools face the difficult problem of the different time and length scales that are involved and linked in a nontrivial way. In this work, a recently proposed hierarchical quantum-classical scale-bridging approach is further developed to study large flexible molecules. The approach is then applied to study the adsorption of oligopeptides on a hydrophilic Pt(111) surface under complete wetting conditions. We examine histidine sequences, which are well known for their binding affinity to metal surfaces. Based on a comparison with phenylalanine, which binds as strong as histidine under high vacuum conditions but, as we show, has no surface affinity under wet conditions, we illustrate the mediating effects of near-surface water molecules. These contribute significantly to the mechanism and strength of peptide binding. In addition to providing physical-chemical insights in the mechanism of surface binding, our computational approach provides future opportunities for surface-specific sequence design.
Ghiringhelli
Luca M
LM
Max-Planck-Institute for Polymer Research, Ackermannweg 10, 55128 Mainz, Germany.
Hess
Berk
B
van der Vegt
Nico F A
NF
Delle Site
Luigi
L
D000327:Adsorption; D003198:Computer Simulation; D004583:Electrons; D008958:Models, Molecular; D010455:Peptides / Q000737:chemistry*; D010984:Platinum / Q000737:chemistry*; D011487:Protein Conformation; D013499:Surface Properties; D014867:Water / Q000737:chemistry*
D010455:Peptides; D014867:Water; D010984:Platinum