Mechanics Force Fields

Hardy s explanation that the small coefficients of friction observed under boundary lubrication conditions were due to the reduction in the force fields between the surfaces as a result of adsorbed films is undoubtedly correct in a general way. The explanation leaves much to be desired, however, and it is of interest to consider more detailed proposals as to the mechanism of boundary lubrication. 

The complexity of polymeric systems make tire development of an analytical model to predict tlieir stmctural and dynamical properties difficult. Therefore, numerical computer simulations of polymers are widely used to bridge tire gap between tire tlieoretical concepts and the experimental results. Computer simulations can also help tire prediction of material properties and provide detailed insights into tire behaviour of polymer systems. A simulation is based on two elements a more or less detailed model of tire polymer and a related force field which allows tire calculation of tire energy and tire motion of tire system using molecular mechanisms, molecular dynamics, or Monte Carlo teclmiques 1631. 

While simulations reach into larger time spans, the inaccuracies of force fields become more apparent on the one hand properties based on free energies, which were never used for parametrization, are computed more accurately and discrepancies show up on the other hand longer simulations, particularly of proteins, show more subtle discrepancies that only appear after nanoseconds. Thus force fields are under constant revision as far as their parameters are concerned, and this process will continue. Unfortunately the form of the potentials is hardly considered and the refinement leads to an increasing number of distinct atom types with a proliferating number of parameters and a severe detoriation of transferability. The increased use of quantum mechanics to derive potentials will not really improve this situation ab initio quantum mechanics is not reliable enough on the level of kT, and on-the-fly use of quantum methods to derive forces, as in the Car-Parrinello method, is not likely to be applicable to very large systems in the foreseeable future. 

A number of issues need to be addressed before this method will become a routine tool applicable to problems as the conformational equilibrium of protein kinase. E.g. the accuracy of the force field, especially the combination of Poisson-Boltzmann forces and molecular mechanics force field, remains to be assessed. The energy surface for the opening of the two kinase domains in Pig. 2 indicates that intramolecular noncovalent energies are overestimated compared to the interaction with solvent. 

Why "force field . In many situations it is necessary to know about the forces between atoms. This is the case for molecular dynamics, but also for many molecular mechanics applications. According to Eq. (17), the forces F are calculated as the negative derivative of the potential energy E with respect to the coordinates r ... 

Figure 7-8. Bonded (upper row) and non-bonded (lower row) contributions to a typioal molecular mechanics force field potential energy function. The latter two types of Interactions can also occur within the same molecule.

The mathematical formulation of a typical molecular mechanics force field, which is also called the potential energy function (PEF), is shown in Eq. (18). Do not wony yet about the necessary mathematical expressions - they will be explained in detail in the following sections ... 

Extensive use of cross-terms is made by Haglcr s quantum mechanically derived force field CFF, because one of the intentions of this type of PEF is to obtain ac-... 

Many problems in force field investigations arise from the calculation of Coulomb interactions with fixed charges, thereby neglecting possible mutual polarization. With that obvious drawback in mind, Ulrich Sternberg developed the COSMOS (Computer Simulation of Molecular Structures) force field [30], which extends a classical molecular mechanics force field by serai-empirical charge calculation based on bond polarization theory [31, 32]. This approach has the advantage that the atomic charges depend on the three-dimensional structure of the molecule. Parts of the functional form of COSMOS were taken from the PIMM force field of Lindner et al., which combines self-consistent field theory for r-orbitals ( nr-SCF) with molecular mechanics [33, 34]. 

Inadequate availability of experimental data can considerably inhibit the development of improved energy functions for more accurate simulations of energetic, structural, and spectroscopic properties. This has led to the development of class II force fields such as CFF and the Merck Molecular Force Field (MMFF), which are both based primarily on quantum mechanical calculations of the energy surface. The purpose of MMFF, which has been developed by Thomas Halgren at Merck and Co., is to be able to handle all functional groups of interest in pharmaceutical design. 

I. Pettersson, T. Liljefors, Molecular mechanics calculated conformational energies of organic molecules a comparison of force fields, in Reviews in Computational Chemistry, Vbl. 9,... 

M. Jalaie, K. B. Lipkowitz, Published force field parameters for molecular mechanics, molecular dynamics, and Monte Carlo simulations, in Reviews in Computational Chemistry, Vol. 14, K.B. Lipkowitz, D. B. Boyd (Eds.), Wiley-VCH, New York, 2000, pp. 441-486. 

T. Fox, C. Chipot, A. PohorUle, The development/application of a minimalisf organic/biochemical molecular mechanic force field using a combination of ab-initio calculations and experimental data, in Computer Simulation of Biomolecular Systems. 

A descriptor for the 3D arrangement of atoms in a molceulc can be derived in a similar manner. The Cartesian coordinates of the atoms in a molecule can be calculated by semi-empirical quantum mechanical or molecular mechanics (force field) methods, For larger data sets, fast 3D structure generators are available that combine data- and rule-driven methods to calculate Cartesian coordinates from the connection table of a molecule (e.g., CORINA [10]). 

An important though deman ding book. Topics include statistical mechanics, Monte Carlo sim illation s. et uilibrium and non -ec iiilibrium molecular dynamics, an aly sis of calculation al results, and applications of methods to problems in liquid dynamics. The authors also discuss and compare many algorithms used in force field simulations. Includes a microfiche containing dozens of Fortran-77 subroutines relevant to molecular dynamics and liquid simulations. 

The classical introduction to molecular mechanics calculations. The authors describe common components of force fields, parameterization methods, and molecular mechanics computational methods. Discusses th e application of molecular mechanics to molecules comm on in organic,and biochemistry. Several chapters deal w ith thermodynamic and chemical reaction calculations. 

In stead, these m eth od s solve the poten tial energy surface by using a force field equation (see Molecular Mechanics" on page2] i.The force field equation represen ts electron ic energy implicitly th roil gh param eteri/ation. 

Th is discussion focuses on th e individual compon en ts of a typical molecular mechanics force field. It illustrates the mathematical functions used, wdi y those functions are chosen, and the circiim -Stan ces u n der wh ich the fun ction s become poor approxirn atiori s. Part 2 of th is book, Theory and Melhadx, includes details on the implementation of the MM+,. AM BHR, RlO-g and OPl.S force fields in HyperChem. 

TlypcrC hcm oilers four molecular mechanics force fields MM+, AMBER, BIO+, and OPES (sec References on page 106). To run a molecular mechanics calciilaLion. yon miisi lirsi choose a force Eeld. The following sections discuss considerations in choosing a force field. 

Wofe." rh c BIO + force field is an im plern en lation oflheCH. ARMM (Chcmistry at H.ARvard MacromoIceular Mechanics ) force field developed in the group of Martin Karplusat Harvard University, l.ike. AMBER and OP1.S, it is primarily designed to explore rnacro-moleciilcs. 

For biological polymers, molecular mechanics force fields arc not well substantiated by experirn eri tal data. You should be cautious about relying on predictions from thesc calculations. 

The UyperChem Reference manual and Genius Sianed discuss the sec neiice of steps to perform a molecular mechanics calculation. These steps in elude choosing a force field, force field option s, and possible restrain is. 

Molecular mechanics force fields have much information built into them and can be accurate for the molecules used in their param eten/ation. For molecules outside the limited scope for 40. Dewar. J. S. Dicier, K. M../. Am. Chem. Soc. 108 807. ), 1086. 

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