Methods Based on a Macroscopic Description of Protein

In PB based methods, the pKa for a protein ionizable site i is given by [6], 

Another advantage of PB based pKa calculations is that effects of electrolytes are readily accounted for in the PB equation. The Coulombic contribution in conjunction with salt dependence to the abnormally depressed pAVs of histidine in staphylococcal nuclease has been experimentally tested [56], Recently, the methodology used in the PB calculations (Eqs. 10-11 and 10-12) has been combined with the generalized Born (GB) implicit solvent model [94] to offer pKa predictions at a reduced computational cost [52], 

Several remedies have been suggested for improving the PB based pKa prediction methods. Most of them are based on strategies that combine conformational flexibility with the PB calculation. You and Bashford included multiple conformers by systematically scanning the side chain torsion angles [107], Alexov and Gunner used Monte-Carlo protocol to sample positions of hydroxyl and other polar protons [1], This method, referred to as the multi-conformation continuum electrostatic (MCCE), was later extended to include rotamers for residues that have strong electrostatic 

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