scholarly journals Coarse-grained simulations of the solution-phase self-assembly of poly(3-hexylthiophene) nanostructures

Nanoscale ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 5 (5) ◽  
pp. 2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kyra N. Schwarz ◽  
Tak W. Kee ◽  
David M. Huang
Keyword(s):  
Self Assembly ◽  
Solution Phase ◽  
Coarse Grained ◽  
Coarse Grained Simulations

scholarly journals Shape selection and mis-assembly in viral capsid formation by elastic frustration

eLife ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carlos I Mendoza ◽  
David Reguera
Keyword(s):  
Self Assembly ◽  
Viral Infections ◽  
Coarse Grained ◽  
Energetic Cost ◽  
Mechanical Resistance ◽  
Elastic Stresses ◽  
Shape Selection ◽  
Spherical Structures ◽  
Coarse Grained Simulations ◽  
Successful Replication

The successful assembly of a closed protein shell (or capsid) is a key step in the replication of viruses and in the production of artificial viral cages for bio/nanotechnological applications. During self-assembly, the favorable binding energy competes with the energetic cost of the growing edge and the elastic stresses generated due to the curvature of the capsid. As a result, incomplete structures such as open caps, cylindrical or ribbon-shaped shells may emerge, preventing the successful replication of viruses. Using elasticity theory and coarse-grained simulations, we analyze the conditions required for these processes to occur and their significance for empty virus self-assembly. We find that the outcome of the assembly can be recast into a universal phase diagram showing that viruses with high mechanical resistance cannot be self-assembled directly as spherical structures. The results of our study justify the need of a maturation step and suggest promising routes to hinder viral infections by inducing mis-assembly.

scholarly journals The influence of arm composition on the self-assembly of low-functionality telechelic star polymers in dilute solutions

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Esmaeel Moghimi ◽  
Iurii Chubak ◽  
Dimitra Founta ◽  
Konstantinos Ntetsikas ◽  
George Polymeropoulos ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Self Assembly ◽  
Dynamic Properties ◽  
Star Polymers ◽  
Coarse Grained ◽  
Dilute Solutions ◽  
Solvent Quality ◽  
Physical Experiments ◽  
Coarse Grained Simulations ◽  
Two Populations

Abstract We combine synthesis, physical experiments, and computer simulations to investigate self-assembly patterns of low-functionality telechelic star polymers (TSPs) in dilute solutions. In particular, in this work, we focus on the effect of the arm composition and length on the static and dynamic properties of TSPs, whose terminal blocks are subject to worsening solvent quality upon reducing the temperature. We find two populations, single stars and clusters, that emerge upon worsening the solvent quality of the outer block. For both types of populations, their spatial extent decreases with temperature, with the specific details (such as temperature at which the minimal size is reached) depending on the coupling between inter- and intra-molecular associations as well as their strength. The experimental results are in very good qualitative agreement with coarse-grained simulations, which offer insights into the mechanism of thermoresponsive behavior of this class of materials.

scholarly journals Coarse-grained simulation reveals key features of HIV-1 capsid self-assembly

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
John M A Grime ◽  
James F Dama ◽  
Barbie K Ganser-Pornillos ◽  
Cora L Woodward ◽  
Grant J Jensen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Self Assembly ◽  
Coarse Grained ◽  
Capsid Assembly ◽  
Molecular Crowding ◽  
Local Conditions ◽  
Conformational Variability ◽  
Multi Stage ◽  
Capsid Shell ◽  
Coarse Grained Simulations ◽  
Hiv 1

The maturation of HIV-1 viral particles is essential for viral infectivity. During maturation, many copies of the capsid protein (CA) self-assemble into a capsid shell to enclose the viral RNA. The mechanistic details of the initiation and early stages of capsid assembly remain to be delineated. We present coarse-grained simulations of capsid assembly under various conditions, considering not only capsid lattice self-assembly but also the potential disassembly of capsid upon delivery to the cytoplasm of a target cell. The effects of CA concentration, molecular crowding, and the conformational variability of CA are described, with results indicating that capsid nucleation and growth is a multi-stage process requiring well-defined metastable intermediates. Generation of the mature capsid lattice is sensitive to local conditions, with relatively subtle changes in CA concentration and molecular crowding influencing self-assembly and the ensemble of structural morphologies.

scholarly journals Direct observation and rational design of nucleation behavior in addressable self-assembly

2018 ◽  
Vol 115 (26) ◽  
pp. E5877-E5886 ◽  
Author(s):  
Martin Sajfutdinow ◽  
William M. Jacobs ◽  
Aleks Reinhardt ◽  
Christoph Schneider ◽  
David M. Smith
Keyword(s):  
Self Assembly ◽  
Rational Design ◽  
Coarse Grained ◽  
Temperature Dependent ◽  
Nucleation Behavior ◽  
Force Microscopy ◽  
Coarse Grained Model ◽  
Nucleation Barrier ◽  
Atomic Force ◽  
Coarse Grained Simulations

To optimize a self-assembly reaction, it is essential to understand the factors that govern its pathway. Here, we examine the influence of nucleation pathways in a model system for addressable, multicomponent self-assembly based on a prototypical “DNA-brick” structure. By combining temperature-dependent dynamic light scattering and atomic force microscopy with coarse-grained simulations, we show how subtle changes in the nucleation pathway profoundly affect the yield of the correctly formed structures. In particular, we can increase the range of conditions over which self-assembly occurs by using stable multisubunit clusters that lower the nucleation barrier for assembling subunits in the interior of the structure. Consequently, modifying only a small portion of a structure is sufficient to optimize its assembly. Due to the generality of our coarse-grained model and the excellent agreement that we find with our experimental results, the design principles reported here are likely to apply generically to addressable, multicomponent self-assembly.

scholarly journals Computational and experimental approaches to controlling bacterial microcompartment assembly

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yaohua Li ◽  
Nolan W. Kennedy ◽  
Siyu Li ◽  
Carolyn E. Mills ◽  
Danielle Tullman-Ercek ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Self Assembly ◽  
Bacterial Species ◽  
Coarse Grained ◽  
Bacterial Phyla ◽  
Energy Applications ◽  
Bacterial Microcompartments ◽  
Bacterial Microcompartment ◽  
Experimental Approaches ◽  
Amino Acid Mutations ◽  
Coarse Grained Simulations

AbstractBacterial microcompartments compartmentalize the enzymes that aid chemical and energy production in many bacterial species. These protein organelles are found in various bacterial phyla and are postulated to help many of these organisms survive in hostile environments such as the gut of their hosts. Metabolic engineers are interested in repurposing these organelles for non-native functions. Here, we use computational, theoretical and experimental approaches to determine mechanisms that effectively control microcompartment self-assembly. As a model system, we find via multiscale modeling and mutagenesis studies, the interactions responsible for the binding of hexamer-forming proteins propanediol utilization bacterial microcompartments from Salmonella and establish conditions that form various morphologies. We determine how the changes in the microcompartment hexamer protein preferred angles and interaction strengths can modify the assembled morphologies including the naturally occurring polyhedral microcompartment shape, as well as other extended shapes or quasi-closed shapes. We demonstrate experimentally that such altered strengths and angles are achieved via amino acid mutations. A thermodynamic model that agrees with the coarse-grained simulations provides guidelines to design microcompartments. These findings yield insight in controlled protein assembly and provide principles for assembling microcompartments for biochemical or energy applications as nanoreactors.

Grand-Reaction Method for Simulations of Ionization Equilibria and Ion Partitioning in a Broad Range of pH and Ionic Strength

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jonas Landsgesell ◽  
Oleg Rud ◽  
Pascal Hebbeker ◽  
Raju Lunkad ◽  
Peter Košovan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mean Field ◽  
Coarse Grained ◽  
Reactive System ◽  
Acid Base ◽  
Buffer Solution ◽  
Reaction Method ◽  
Ionization Equilibria ◽  
Coarse Grained Simulations ◽  
Ph Range ◽  
Weak Polyelectrolytes

We introduce the grand-reaction method for coarse-grained simulations of acid-base equilibria in a system coupled to a reservoir at a given pH and concentration of added salt. It can be viewed as an extension of the constant-pH method and the reaction ensemble, combining explicit simulations of reactions within the system, and grand-canonical exchange of particles with the reservoir. Unlike the previously introduced methods, the grand-reaction method is applicable to acid-base equilibria in the whole pH range because it avoids known artifacts. However, the method is more general, and can be used for simulations of any reactive system coupled to a reservoir of a known composition. To demonstrate the advantages of the grand-reaction method, we simulated a model system: A solution of weak polyelectrolytes in equilibrium with a buffer solution. By carefully accounting for the exchange of all constituents, the method ensures that all chemical potentials are equal in the system and in the multi-component reservoir. Thus, the grand-reaction method is able to predict non-monotonic swelling of weak polyelectrolytes as a function of pH, that has been known from mean-field predictions and from experiments but has never been observed in coarse-grained simulations. Finally, we outline possible extensions and further generalizations of the method, and provide a set of guidelines to enable safe usage of the method by a broad community of users.<br><br>

Simulation studies of the interactions between membrane proteins and detergents

2005 ◽  
Vol 33 (5) ◽  
pp. 910-912 ◽  
Author(s):  
P.J. Bond ◽  
J. Cuthbertson ◽  
M.S.P. Sansom
Keyword(s):  
Membrane Proteins ◽  
Membrane Protein ◽  
Self Assembly ◽  
Kinetic Mechanism ◽  
Coarse Grained ◽  
Simulation Studies ◽  
High Resolution Data ◽  
Biologically Relevant ◽  
Structure And Dynamics ◽  
Detergent Interactions

Interactions between membrane proteins and detergents are important in biophysical and structural studies and are also biologically relevant in the context of folding and transport. Despite a paucity of high-resolution data on protein–detergent interactions, novel methods and increased computational power enable simulations to provide a means of understanding such interactions in detail. Simulations have been used to compare the effect of lipid or detergent on the structure and dynamics of membrane proteins. Moreover, some of the longest and most complex simulations to date have been used to observe the spontaneous formation of membrane protein–detergent micelles. Common mechanistic steps in the micelle self-assembly process were identified for both α-helical and β-barrel membrane proteins, and a simple kinetic mechanism was proposed. Recently, simplified (i.e. coarse-grained) models have been utilized to follow long timescale transitions in membrane protein–detergent assemblies.

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