Multiscale modeling of (bio) catalytic systems

（生物）催化系统的多尺度建模

• 批准号: RGPIN-2014-06606
• 负责人: Salahub, Dennis
• 金额: $ 4.95万
• 依托单位: University of Calgary
• 依托单位国家: 加拿大
• 项目类别: Discovery Grants Program - Individual
• 财政年份: 2018
• 资助国家: 加拿大
• 起止时间: 2018-01-01 至 2019-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=664116
• 关键词: Multiscale; modeling; bio; catalytic; systems

The modeling of complex systems in chemistry, physics, biology, materials science and related interdisciplines has taken great strides in recent years. In the areas of interest to this proposal, advances in quantum chemistry, in molecular mechanics and molecular dynamics, in statistical and stochastic methodologies and in the treatment of kinetic networks are merging. And an embryonic systems approach is emerging. Some of the most interesting frontier work is interdisciplinary and integrative in nature and requires theories and methodologies that span large ranges on spatial and temporal scales. The long-term goal of my research program is to contribute to the development of such multi-scale modeling methodologies, to their implementation in efficient computer codes, and their application to catalytically-driven processes in complex biological and energy-related environments.* Success would lead to better understanding of biological systems, of how biochemical reactions are coupled to larger scale properties of cellular components and of how they work together. * In the area of electron-transfer between proteins, we have successfully elucidated the role of water in modulating the electron transfer between the proteins MADH and Amicyanin. We have developed a methodology to compute the effects of quantum decoherence on the rates. In the upcoming grant cycle we will extend this work to other examples of protein pairs and also work on methodology to remove the empirical aspects of the tunneling pathway approach. We will start a new project on proton transfers in the respiratory chain, which will require methodology for nuclear quantum effects and extend the project to proton-coupled electron transfers.* We have explored the reaction network for biological transcription and translation using empirical rate constants. Quantum Mechanical/Molecular Mechanical (QM/MM) simulations have been carried out for various steps in the formation of m-RNA by RNA Polymerase. Conformational changes have been identified and the chemical reaction has been mapped out using a rapid semi-empirical quantum mechanical method. The project will be extended to important mutants and also the effects on RNA reactions of substituting the catalytically important Mg ions by other metals, starting with Fe.* The methods can also be used to understand petroleum chemistry under realistic conditions, such as those in heavy oil deposits or in the oil sands. New ultradispersed catalysts will be designed by a combined computational-experimental (in collaboration with Pereira's group) approach so that some of the important chemistry can be done underground, with less impact on the environment. So far, we have explored the potential energy surface for the hydrogenation of benzene as a model molecule using Density Functional Theory with both periodic and cluster models. Simulations and benchmarking of two rapid semiempirical methods (DFTB and TBQCMD) are ongoing. Preliminary DFTB simulations on a model including hydrocarbon, nanocatalyst and a silica (sand) model have shown that a Mo2C nanoparticle can dissociate hydrogen and crack hexadecane. Extensions to hydrogenation and cracking of polyaromatic hydrocarbons are planned. Calculations of the free energy profiles for selected reactions will be carried out with QM/MM methodology using DFTB/CHARMM and umbrella sampling.* As a high-risk, speculative, element of my research program (10-15% effort) I am collaborating with Stuart Kauffman and Gabor Vattay on using the eigenvalue spectra of molecules to situate them in the "poised realm" which has axes, X going from ordered to critical to chaotic and Y measuring the extent of quantum decoherence. Preliminary results show that biological molecules tend to be critical.

近年来，化学、物理、生物学、材料科学和相关跨学科的复杂系统建模取得了长足的进步。在该提议感兴趣的领域，量子化学、分子力学和分子动力学、统计和随机方法以及动力学网络处理方面的进展正在融合。 一种胚胎系统方法正在出现。一些最有趣的前沿工作本质上是跨学科和综合性的，需要跨越时空尺度的大范围的理论和方法。我的研究项目的长期目标是促进这种多尺度建模方法的发展，促进它们在高效计算机代码中的实施，以及它们在复杂生物和能源相关环境中催化驱动过程中的应用。*成功将有助于更好地理解生物系统、生化反应如何与细胞成分的更大规模特性耦合以及它们如何协同工作。 * 在蛋白质之间的电子转移领域，我们已经成功阐明了水在调节蛋白质 MADH 和 Amicyanin 之间的电子转移中的作用。 我们开发了一种方法来计算量子退相干对速率的影响。在即将到来的资助周期中，我们将把这项工作扩展到蛋白质对的其他例子，并研究消除隧道途径方法的经验方面的方法。我们将启动一个关于呼吸链中质子转移的新项目，这将需要核量子效应的方法，并将该项目扩展到质子耦合电子转移。*我们已经使用经验速率常数探索了生物转录和翻译的反应网络。已经对 RNA 聚合酶形成 mRNA 的各个步骤进行了量子力学/分子力学 (QM/MM) 模拟。使用快速半经验量子力学方法已经识别了构象变化并绘制了化学反应。该项目将扩展到重要的突变体，以及从 Fe 开始用其他金属取代具有催化作用的重要镁离子对 RNA 反应的影响。*这些方法还可用于了解现实条件下的石油化学，例如重油矿床或油砂中的石油化学。新的超分散催化剂将通过计算实验相结合（与佩雷拉小组合作）的方法进行设计，以便一些重要的化学反应可以在地下进行，对环境的影响较小。到目前为止，我们已经使用密度泛函理论以及周期模型和簇模型探索了苯氢化的势能面作为模型分子。 两种快速半经验方法（DFTB 和 TBQCMD）的模拟和基准测试正在进行中。对包含碳氢化合物、纳米催化剂和二氧化硅（沙子）模型的模型进行的初步 DFTB 模拟表明，Mo2C 纳米颗粒可以离解氢并裂解十六烷。计划扩展多环芳烃的加氢和裂化。所选反应的自由能分布的计算将使用 DFTB/CHARMM 和伞式抽样，通过 QM/MM 方法进行。* 作为我的研究计划（10-15% 工作量）的高风险、推测性元素，我正在与 Stuart Kauffman 和 Gabor Vattay 合作，使用分子的特征值谱将它们置于具有轴的“平衡领域”，X 方向 从有序到临界再到混沌，Y 测量量子退相干的程度。初步结果表明，生物分子往往至关重要。