A Novel Empirical Free Energy Function That Explains And Predicts Protein–Protein Binding Affinities
Document Type
Peer-Reviewed Article
Publication Date
9-2007
Abstract
A free energy function can be defined as a mathematical expression that relates macroscopic free energy changes to microscopic or molecular properties. Free energy functions can be used to explain and predict the affinity of a ligand for a protein and to score and discriminate between native and non-native binding modes. However, there is a natural tension between developing a function fast enough to solve the scoring problem but rigorous enough to explain and predict binding affinities. Here, we present a novel, physics-based free energy function that is computationally inexpensive, yet explanatory and predictive. The function results from a derivation that assumes the cost of polar desolvation can be ignored and that includes a unique and implicit treatment of interfacial water-bridged interactions. The function was parameterized on an internally consistent, high quality training set giving R 2 =0.97 and Q 2 =0.91. We used the function to blindly and successfully predict binding affinities for a diverse test set of 31 wild-type protein–protein and protein–peptide complexes (R 2 =0.79, rmsd=1.2 kcal mol−1). The function performed very well in direct comparison with a recently described knowledge-based potential and the function appears to be transferable. Our results indicate that our function is well suited for solving a wide range of protein/peptide design and discovery problems.
DOI
10.1016/j.bpc.2007.05.021
PubMed ID
17600612
Recommended Citation
Audie, J., & Scarlata, S. (2007). A novel empirical free energy function that explains and predicts protein–protein binding affinities. Biophysical Chemistry, 129(2/3), 198-211. Doi: 10.1016/j.bpc.2007.05.021
