%J Journal of Physical Chemistry B
%N 41
%K MOLECULAR-DYNAMICS, SWELLING PRESSURE, TRIPLE-HELIX, WATER, SIMULATION, STABILITY, HYDRATION, FLUID
%X Molecular dynamics simulations can aid studies of the structural and physicochemical properties of proteins, by predicting their dynamics,-energetics, and interactions with their local environment at the atomistic level. We argue that nonstandard protocols are needed to realistically model collagen proteins, which in their biological state aggregate to form collagen fibrils, and so should not be treated as fully solvated molecules. A new modeling approach is presented that can account for the local environment of collagen molecules within a fibril and which therefore simulates aspects of their behavior that would not otherwise be distinguished. This modeling approach exploits periodic boundaries to replicate the supermolecular arrangement of collagen proteins within the fibril, in an approach. that is more commonly associated with modeling crystalline solids rather than mesoscopic protein aggregates. Initial simulations show agreement with experimental observations and corroborate. theories of the fibril's structure.
%O This document is the Accepted Manuscript version of a Published Work that appeared in final form in Journal of Physical Chemistry B copyright 2010 American Chemical Society after peer review and technical editing by the publisher. To access the final edited and published work see http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/jp1059984
%V 114
%A I Streeter
%A NH de Leeuw
%T Atomistic Modeling of Collagen Proteins in Their Fibrillar Environment
%P 13263 - 13270
%D 2010
%L discovery171426
%I AMER CHEMICAL SOC