title: Hydrophobic noncovalent interactions of inosine-phenylalanine: a theoretical model for investigating the molecular recognition of nucleobases.
abstract: Understanding the molecular recognition process of nucleobases is one of the greatest challenges for both computational chemistry and biophysics fields. In fact, our results point out that it is a hard task to take into account the hydrophobic interactions, such as π-π and T-stacking interactions, by theoretical calculations using conventional force fields due to quantum effects of hyperconjugation and electronic correlation. In this line, our findings put in evidence that simple modifications in the Lennard-Jones potential can improve theoretical predictions in scenarios where hydrophobic interactions can drive the molecular recognition.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Federal University of Lavras , CEP 37200-000 Lavras, Minas Gerais Brazil.
authors.forename: Lucas A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Santos
authors.forename: Elaine F F
authors.initials: EF
authors.lastname: da Cunha
authors.forename: Matheus P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Freitas
authors.forename: Teodorico C
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: Ramalho
mesh_terms: D003198:Computer Simulation; D057927:Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions; D007288:Inosine / Q000737:chemistry*; D008780:Methyltransferases / Q000737:chemistry; D008958:Models, Molecular; D015394:Molecular Structure; D009711:Nucleotides / Q000737:chemistry*; D010649:Phenylalanine / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D009711:Nucleotides; D010649:Phenylalanine; D007288:Inosine; D008780:Methyltransferases