Torsion search

The molecule preparation step includes also conformational expansion using a torsional search or a combined Monte Carlo Multiple Minimum/Low Mode search. During the search, the intramolecular hydrogen bonds are not considered. Molecules can be minimized, OPLS-2005 or MMFF force fields [86, 87] are available, and also two continuum solvation models (distance-dependent dielectric or GB/SA). A double criterion is used to eliminate redundant conformations it uses distances between pairs of corresponding atoms within a 1 kcal moh1 energy window. 

The atom pair, ap, and topological torsion, tt, descriptors are selected for illustrative purposes in the similarity searching context. 

Dmparison of various methods for searching conformational space has been performed cycloheptadecane (C17H34) [Saunders et al. 1990]. The methods compared were the ematic search, random search (both Cartesian and torsional), distance geometry and ecular dynamics. The number of unique minimum energy conformations found with 1 method within 3 kcal/mol of the global minimum after 30 days of computer processing e determined (the study was performed in 1990 on what would now be considered a / slow computer). The results are shown in Table 9.1. 

When no explicitly correct force constant is found, HyperChem proceeds to stage two and finally to stage three. In stage two, you can use wildcards to relax the explicitness of the match between the atom types of the torsion in question and the available MM-t parameters. In the torsional case, as many as three searches of the mmp.par file are performed. If the exact match between A-X-Y-B and entries in mmp.par fails, then a search in mmp.par looks for an entry labeled, -X-Y- where is the designation for wildcard, don t-care, any-atom-type, unknown, etc. This search looks... 

In Fig. 4-11, two different samples are displayed in their original conformations and conformations fitted to the query as they are highlighted by the CFS search process. The CFS process rotates single bonds between two atoms to find the maximum and minimum difference possible with the distance and angle constraints. Then, using a torsional fitter, it attempts to minimize in those conformations the deviations between measured values of 3D constraints and the values that are specified in the 3D-search query. 

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