Consistent Force-Field

Niketic S R and K Rasmussen 1977. The Consistent Force Field A Documentation. Berlin, Springer-Verlag... 

I lagler A T, E Huler and S Lifson 1977. Energy Functions for Peptides and Proteins. I. Derivation of a Consistent Force Field Including the Hydrogen Bond from Amide Crystals. Journal of the American Chemical Society 96 5319-5327. 

The consistent force field (CFF) was developed to yield consistent accuracy of results for conformations, vibrational spectra, strain energy, and vibrational enthalpy of proteins. There are several variations on this, such as the Ure-Bradley version (UBCFF), a valence version (CVFF), and Lynghy CFF. The quantum mechanically parameterized force field (QMFF) was parameterized from ah initio results. CFF93 is a rescaling of QMFF to reproduce experimental results. These force fields use five to six valence terms, one of which is an electrostatic term, and four to six cross terms. 

Cartesian coordinates system for locating points in space based on three coordinates, which are usually given the symbols x, y, z or i, j, k CBS (complete basis set) an ah initio method CC (coupled cluster) a correlated ah initio method CFF (consistent force field) a class of molecular mechanics force fields CFMM (continuous fast multipole method) a method for fast DFT calculations on large molecules... 

Chymotrypsin, 170,171, 172, 173 Classical partition functions, 42,44,77 Classical trajectories, 78, 81 Cobalt, as cofactor for carboxypeptidase A, 204-205. See also Enzyme cofactors Condensed-phase reactions, 42-46, 215 Configuration interaction treatment, 14,30 Conformational analysis, 111-117,209 Conjugated gradient methods, 115-116. See also Energy minimization methods Consistent force field approach, 113 Coulomb integrals, 16, 27 Coulomb interactions, in macromolecules, 109, 123-126... 

Vibrational spectroscopy has played a very important role in the development of potential functions for molecular mechanics studies of proteins. Force constants which appear in the energy expressions are heavily parameterized from infrared and Raman studies of small model compounds. One approach to the interpretation of vibrational spectra for biopolymers has been a harmonic analysis whereby spectra are fit by geometry and/or force constant changes. There are a number of reasons for developing other approaches. The consistent force field (CFF) type potentials used in computer simulations are meant to model the motions of the atoms over a large ranee of conformations and, implicitly temperatures, without reparameterization. It is also desirable to develop a formalism for interpreting vibrational spectra which takes into account the variation in the conformations of the chromophore and surroundings which occur due to thermal motions. 

The procedure of Lifson and Warshel leads to so-called consistent force fields (OFF) and operates as follows First a set of reliable experimental data, as many as possible (or feasible), is collected from a large set of molecules which belong to a family of molecules of interest. These data comprise, for instance, vibrational properties (Section 3.3.), structural quantities, thermochemical measurements, and crystal properties (heats of sublimation, lattice constants, lattice vibrations). We restrict our discussion to the first three kinds of experimental observation. All data used for the optimisation process are calculated and the differences between observed and calculated quantities evaluated. Subsequently the sum of the squares of these differences is minimised in an iterative process under variation of the potential constants. The ultimately resulting values for the potential constants are the best possible within the data set and analytical form of the chosen force field. Starting values of the potential constants for the least-squares process can be derived from the same sources as mentioned in connection with trial-and-error procedures. 

The lion s share of the computer-time for the least-squares process has to be provided for forming the Z-matrix. The elements of this matrix are evaluated partly numerically and partly analytically in the calculations of Lifson and Warshel (17). In certain cases, strong parameter correlations may occur. Therefore caution is demanded when inverting the matrix C. Also from investigations other than consistent force-field calculations it is known that such correlations frequently occur among the parameters for the nonbonded interactions (34,35). Another example of force field parameter correlations was encountered by Ermer and Lifson (19) in the course of the calculation of olefin properties. When... 

Recent force field calculations of olefins have been performed by Favini et al (64), by Allinger and Sprague (65), and by Ermer and Lifson (19). In what follows we comment mainly on some of our own results and first describe features of our consistent force field. 

Warshel, Levitt, and Lifson derived a partially optimised consistent force field for amides and lactams (25). It is composed of an alkane part and an amide-part. The former was taken over from analogous earlier calculations for saturated hydrocarbons (17). The potential constants of the amide-part were optimised with the help of a large number of experimental frequencies (taken from TV-methylform amide, acetamide, iV-methylacetamide, and several deuterated species) as well as experimental geometry data for 7V-methylacet-amide. The resulting force field was used for the calculation of vibrational and conformational properties of 2-pyrrolidone, 2-piperidone and e-caprolactam. 

Conrad-Limpach-Knorr synthesis, of quinolines, 21 189 Conrad recycling process, 21 455 Conradson carbon test method, 11 705, 721 Consensus materials standards, 15 743 Consent decree protocols, in the United States, 11 692-694 Consent decrees, 11 689-690 Consequence analysis, 21 860-861 Consequence modeling, 13 165-166 Conservation applications, high performance fibers in, 13 398 Conservation of energy, 21 290 Conservation of mass, 11 737, 738-739 Conservation, of resources, 24 164-167 Conservation scientists, 11 398-399 Consistent force field, 16 744 Consolidants, in fine art examination/ conservation, 11 410... 

The various types of successful approaches can be classified into two groups empirical model calculations based on molecular force fields and quantum mechanical approximations. In the first class of methods experimental data are used to evaluate the parameters which appear in the model. The shape of the potential surfaces in turn is described by expressions which were found to be appropriate by semiclassicala> or quantum mechanical methods. Most calculations of this type are based upon the electrostatic model. Another more general approach, the "consistent force field method, was recently applied to the forces in hydrogen-bonded crystals 48> 49>. 

Hagler, A.T., Huler, E., Lifson, S. Energy functions for peptides and proteins. 1. Derivation of a consistent force field including the hydrogen bond from amide crystals./. Am. Chem. Soc. 1974, 96, 5319-5327. 

A short presentation of the Consistent Force Field is given, with emphasis on parametrization and optimization of energy function parameters. For best possible calculation of structure, potential energy functions with parameter values optimized on both structural and other properties must be used. Results from optimization with the Consistent Force Field on alkanes and ethers are applied to glucose, gentiobiose, maltose and cellobiose. Comparison is made with earlier and with parallel work. The meaning and use of conformational maps is discussed shortly. 

This paper presents a few examples of applications of the program package called the Consistent Force Field (CFF). The program has been extensively described in the literature (1-2), as has the strategy of its use (3-4), but a short overview may be pertinent here. 

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