New Insights on the Vibrational Dynamics of 2-Methoxy-, 4-Methoxy- and 4-Ethoxy-Benzaldehyde from INS Spectra and Periodic DFT Calculations

The dynamics of 2-methoxybenzaldehyde, 4-methoxybenzaldehyde, and 4-ethoxybenzaldehyde in the solid state are assessed through INS spectroscopy combined with periodic DFT calculations. In the absence of experimental data for 4-ethoxybenzaldehyde, a tentative crystal structure, based on its similarity with 4-methoxybenzaldehyde, is considered and evaluated. The excellent agreement between calculated and experimental spectra allows a confident assignment of the vibrational modes. Several spectral features in the INS spectra are unambiguously assigned and torsional potential barriers for the methyl groups are derived from experimental frequencies. The intramolecular nature of the potential energy barrier for methyl rotation about O–CH3 bonds compares with the one reported for torsion about saturated C–CH3 bonds. On the other hand, the intermolecular contribution to the potential energy barrier may represent 1/3 of the barrier height in these systems.

Internal methyl rotation and molecular structure of trifluorotoluenes: microwave rotational spectra of 2,3,4- and 2,4,5-trifluorotoluene

The microwave rotational spectra of 2,3,4- and 2,4,5-trifluorotoluenes, along with all 13C isotopic species in natural abundance, have been recorded in the frequency range 8–27 GHz employing pulsed-jet Fourier transform microwave spectroscopy. The analysis of the spectra in the lowest torsional state has yielded the rotational constants, centrifugal distortion constants, three-fold barrier to methyl rotation, and the direction of the internal rotation axis in the moment of inertia principal axes systems of these trifluorotoluenes. For both molecules, the molecular constants of their eight isotopologues have been used to obtain the substitution rs structures of the ring and the methyl-carbon. The potential barriers hindering the internal rotation of the methyl top in 2,3,4- and 2,4,5-trifluorotluene are 2.5878(80) and 2.2809(23) kJ/mol, respectively.

Predicting NMR Relaxation of Proteins from Molecular Dynamics Simulations with Accurate Methyl Rotation Barriers

The internal dynamics of proteins occurring on time scales from picoseconds to nanoseconds can be sensitively probed by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spin relaxation experiments, as well as by molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. This complementarity offers unique opportunities, provided that the two methods are compared at a suitable level. Recently, several groups have used MD simulations to compute the spectral density of backbone and side-chain molecular motions, and to predict NMR relaxation rates from these. Unfortunately, in the case of methyl groups in protein side-chains, inaccurate energy barriers to methyl rotation were responsible for a systematic discrepancy in the computed relaxation rates, as demonstrated for the AMBER ff99SB*-ILDN force field (and related parameter sets), impairing quantitative agreement between simulations and experiments. However, correspondence could be regained by emending the MD force field with accurate coupled cluster quantum chemical calculations. Spurred by this positive result, we tested whether this approach could be generally applicable, in spite of the fact that different MD force fields employ different water models. Improved methyl group rotation barriers for the CHARMM36 and AMBER ff15ipq protein force fields were derived, such that the NMR relaxation data obtained from the MD simulations now also display very good agreement with experiment. Results herein showcase the performance of present-day MD force fields, and manifest their refined ability to accurately describe internal protein dynamics.

Predicting NMR Relaxation of Proteins from Molecular Dynamics Simulations with Accurate Methyl Rotation Barriers

The internal dynamics of proteins occurring on time scales from picoseconds to nanoseconds can be sensitively probed by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spin relaxation experiments, as well as by molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. This complementarity offers unique opportunities, provided that the two methods are compared at a suitable level. Recently, several groups have used MD simulations to compute the spectral density of backbone and side-chain molecular motions, and to predict NMR relaxation rates from these. Unfortunately, in the case of methyl groups in protein side-chains, inaccurate energy barriers to methyl rotation were responsible for a systematic discrepancy in the computed relaxation rates, as demonstrated for the AMBER ff99SB*-ILDN force field (and related parameter sets), impairing quantitative agreement between simulations and experiments. However, correspondence could be regained by emending the MD force field with accurate coupled cluster quantum chemical calculations. Spurred by this positive result, we tested whether this approach could be generally applicable, in spite of the fact that different MD force fields employ different water models. Improved methyl group rotation barriers for the CHARMM36 and AMBER ff15ipq protein force fields were derived, such that the NMR relaxation data obtained from the MD simulations now also display very good agreement with experiment. Results herein showcase the performance of present-day MD force fields, and manifest their refined ability to accurately describe internal protein dynamics.

Predicting NMR Relaxation of Proteins from Molecular Dynamics Simulations with Accurate Methyl Rotation Barriers

The internal dynamics of proteins occurring on time scales from picoseconds to nanoseconds can be sensitively probed by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spin relaxation experiments, as well as by molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. This complementarity offers unique opportunities, provided that the two methods are compared at a suitable level. Recently, several groups have used MD simulations to compute the spectral density of backbone and side-chain molecular motions, and to predict NMR relaxation rates from these. Unfortunately, in the case of methyl groups in protein side-chains, inaccurate energy barriers to methyl rotation were responsible for a systematic discrepancy in the computed relaxation rates, as demonstrated for the AMBER ff99SB*-ILDN force field (and related parameter sets), impairing quantitative agreement between simulations and experiments. However, correspondence could be regained by emending the MD force field with accurate coupled cluster quantum chemical calculations. Spurred by this positive result, we tested whether this approach could be generally applicable, in spite of the fact that different MD force fields employ different water models. Improved methyl group rotation barriers for the CHARMM36 and AMBER ff15ipq protein force fields were derived, such that the NMR relaxation data obtained from the MD simulations now also display very good agreement with experiment. Results herein showcase the performance of present-day MD force fields, and manifest their refined ability to accurately describe internal protein dynamics.

Predicting NMR Relaxation of Proteins from Molecular Dynamics Simulations with Accurate Methyl Rotation Barriers

The internal dynamics of proteins occurring on time scales from picoseconds to nanoseconds can be sensitively probed by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spin relaxation experiments, as well as by molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. This complementarity offers unique opportunities, provided that the two methods are compared at a suitable level. Recently, several groups have used MD simulations to compute the spectral density of backbone and side-chain molecular motions, and to predict NMR relaxation rates from these. Unfortunately, in the case of methyl groups in protein side-chains, inaccurate energy barriers to methyl rotation were responsible for a systematic discrepancy in the computed relaxation rates, as demonstrated for the AMBER ff99SB*-ILDN force field (and related parameter sets), impairing quantitative agreement between simulations and experiments. However, correspondence could be regained by emending the MD force field with accurate coupled cluster quantum chemical calculations. Spurred by this positive result, we tested whether this approach could be generally applicable, in spite of the fact that different MD force fields employ different water models. Improved methyl group rotation barriers for the CHARMM36 and AMBER ff15ipq protein force fields were derived, such that the NMR relaxation data obtained from the MD simulations now also display very good agreement with experiment. Results herein showcase the performance of present-day MD force fields, and manifest their refined ability to accurately describe internal protein dynamics.

Predicting NMR Relaxation of Proteins from Molecular Dynamics Simulations with Accurate Methyl Rotation Barriers

The internal dynamics of proteins occurring on time scales from picoseconds to nanoseconds can be sensitively probed by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spin relaxation experiments, as well as by molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. This complementarity offers unique opportunities, provided that the two methods are compared at a suitable level. Recently, several groups have used MD simulations to compute the spectral density of backbone and side-chain molecular motions, and to predict NMR relaxation rates from these. Unfortunately, in the case of methyl groups in protein side-chains, inaccurate energy barriers to methyl rotation were responsible for a systematic discrepancy in the computed relaxation rates, as demonstrated for the AMBER ff99SB*-ILDN force field (and related parameter sets), impairing quantitative agreement between simulations and experiments. However, correspondence could be regained by emending the MD force field with accurate coupled cluster quantum chemical calculations. Spurred by this positive result, we tested whether this approach could be generally applicable, in spite of the fact that different MD force fields employ different water models. Improved methyl group rotation barriers for the CHARMM36 and AMBER ff15ipq protein force fields were derived, such that the NMR relaxation data obtained from the MD simulations now also display very good agreement with experiment. Results herein showcase the performance of present-day MD force fields, and manifest their refined ability to accurately describe internal protein dynamics.

Predicting NMR Relaxation of Proteins from Molecular Dynamics Simulations with Accurate Methyl Rotation Barriers

The internal dynamics of proteins occurring on time scales from picoseconds to nanoseconds can be sensitively probed by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spin relaxation experiments, as well as by molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. This complementarity offers unique opportunities, provided that the two methods are compared at a suitable level. Recently, several groups have used MD simulations to compute the spectral density of backbone and side-chain molecular motions, and to predict NMR relaxation rates from these. Unfortunately, in the case of methyl groups in protein side-chains, inaccurate energy barriers to methyl rotation were responsible for a systematic discrepancy in the computed relaxation rates, as demonstrated for the AMBER ff99SB*-ILDN force field (and related parameter sets), impairing quantitative agreement between simulations and experiments. However, correspondence could be regained by emending the MD force field with accurate coupled cluster quantum chemical calculations. Spurred by this positive result, we tested whether this approach could be generally applicable, in spite of the fact that different MD force fields employ different water models. Improved methyl group rotation barriers for the CHARMM36 and AMBER ff15ipq protein force fields were derived, such that the NMR relaxation data obtained from the MD simulations now also display very good agreement with experiment. Results herein showcase the performance of present-day MD force fields, and manifest their refined ability to accurately describe internal protein dynamics.