title: Modelling of beta-D-glucopyranose ring distortion in different force fields: a metadynamics study.
abstract: Modelling of carbohydrate conformations is a challenging task for force field developers. Three carbohydrate force fields, namely GLYCAM06, GROMOS 45a4 and OPLS were evaluated. Free energies of different ring conformations of beta-D-glucopyranose were calculated using metadynamics in vacuum as well as in explicitly modelled water. All three force fields model the (4)C(1) conformation as the most stable by at least 6kJ/mol, as compared to other conformations. Interconversion from the (4)C(1) to any other conformation is associated with a barrier of no lower than 26kJ/mol. The free energy surface calculated in the GLYCAM06 force field is in remarkably good agreement with the recent Car-Parrinello metadynamics study. The effect of a water environment is relatively low and analogous in all tested force fields. Namely, the presence of water stabilizes the upper-left ((3,O)B) versus bottom-right (B(3,O)) area of Stoddard's plot, relative to the situation in vacuum. Comparison of free and potential surfaces is also provided for vacuum calculations.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, Institute of Chemical Technology Prague, Technická 3, Prague, Czech Republic. spiwokv@vscht.cz
authors.forename: Vojtech
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Spiwok
authors.forename: Blanka
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Králová
authors.forename: Igor
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Tvaroska
mesh_terms: D002236:Carbohydrate Conformation; D005960:Glucosides / Q000737:chemistry*; D056004:Molecular Dynamics Simulation; D013816:Thermodynamics; D014867:Water / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D005960:Glucosides; D014867:Water