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A Molecular Dynamics Method for Calculating Molecular Volume Changes Appropriate for Biomolecular Simulation

Russell DeVane ^*, Christina Ridley ^*, Randy W. Larsen ^*, Brian Space ^*, Preston B. Moore  and Sunney I. Chan 

^* Department of Chemistry, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida; Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of the Sciences in Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; and Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan

Correspondence: Address reprint requests to Brian Space, Dept. of Chemistry, University of South Florida, 4202 E. Fowler Ave., SCA400, Tampa, FL 33620-5250. E-mail: space{at}cas.usf.edu.

Photothermal methods permit measurement of molecular volume changes of solvated molecules over nanosecond timescales. Such experiments are an important tool in investigating complex biophysical phenomena including identifying transient species in solution. Developing a microscopic understanding of the origin of volume changes in the condensed phase is needed to complement the experimental measurements. A molecular dynamics (MD) method exploiting available simulation methodology is demonstrated here that both mimics experimental measurements and provides microscopic resolution to the thermodynamic measurements. To calculate thermodynamic volume changes over time, isothermal-isobaric (NPT) MD is performed on a solution for a chosen length of time and the volume of the system is thus established. A further simulation is then performed by "plucking" out a solute molecule of interest to determine the volume of the system in its absence. The difference between these volumes is the thermodynamic volume of the solute molecule. NPT MD allows the volume of the system to fluctuate over time and this results in a statistical uncertainty in volumes that are calculated. It is found in the systems investigated here that simulations lasting a few nanoseconds can discern volume changes of 1.0 ml/mole. This precision is comparable to that achieved empirically, making the experimental and theoretical techniques synergistic. The technique is demonstrated here on model systems including neat water, both charged and neutral aqueous methane, and an aqueous ß-sheet peptide.