Empirical model, approximating free energy

An approximate approach for computing free-energy changes based on linear response (LR) theory is also implemented in BOSS. In this model, the free energy of interaction of a solute with its environment is given as a function of the electrostatic (Coulombic) energy, van der Waals (Lennard-Jones) energy, and solvent-accessible surface area for the solute scaled by empirical parameters, a, p, and y ... 

It is possible to go beyond the SASA/PB approximation and develop better approximations to current implicit solvent representations with sophisticated statistical mechanical models based on distribution functions or integral equations (see Section V.A). An alternative intermediate approach consists in including a small number of explicit solvent molecules near the solute while the influence of the remain bulk solvent molecules is taken into account implicitly (see Section V.B). On the other hand, in some cases it is necessary to use a treatment that is markedly simpler than SASA/PB to carry out extensive conformational searches. In such situations, it possible to use empirical models that describe the entire solvation free energy on the basis of the SASA (see Section V.C). An even simpler class of approximations consists in using infonnation-based potentials constructed to mimic and reproduce the statistical trends observed in macromolecular structures (see Section V.D). Although the microscopic basis of these approximations is not yet formally linked to a statistical mechanical formulation of implicit solvent, full SASA models and empirical information-based potentials may be very effective for particular problems. 

Warshel is to utilize a formula identical to (11.22) in this chapter to compute the free energy change. They employed an empirical valence bond (EVB, below) approach to approximately model electronic effects, and the calculations included the full experimental structure of carbonic anhydrase. An H/D isotope effect of 3.9 1.0 was obtained in the calculation, which compared favorably with the experimental value of 3.8. This benchmark calculation gives optimism that quantum effects on free energies can be realistically modeled for complex biochemical systems. 

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