@article {2017|2029, title = {Multi-scale simulations of biological systems using the OPEP coarse-grained model.}, journal = {Biochem Biophys Res Commun}, year = {2017}, month = {2017 Sep 14}, abstract = {

Biomolecules are complex machines that are optimized by evolution to properly fulfill or contribute to a variety of biochemical tasks in the cellular environment. Computer simulations based on quantum mechanics and atomistic force fields have been proven to be a powerful microscope for obtaining valuable insights into many biological, physical, and chemical processes. Many interesting phenomena involve, however, a time scale and a number of degrees of freedom, notably if crowding is considered, that cannot be explored at an atomistic resolution. To bridge the gap between reality and simulation, many different advanced computational techniques and coarse-grained (CG) models have been developed. Here, we report some applications of the CG OPEP protein model to amyloid fibril formation, the response of catch-bond proteins to two types of fluid flow, and interactive simulations to fold peptides with well-defined 3D structures or with intrinsic disorder.

}, issn = {1090-2104}, doi = {10.1016/j.bbrc.2017.08.165}, author = {Sterpone, Fabio and Doutreligne, S{\'e}bastien and Tran, Thanh Thuy and Melchionna, Simone and Marc Baaden and Phuong Hoang Nguyen and Philippe Derreumaux} } @article {2017|2042, title = {What Can Human-Guided Simulations Bring to RNA Folding?}, journal = {Biophys J}, volume = {113}, year = {2017}, month = {2017 Jul 25}, pages = {302-312}, abstract = {

Inspired by the recent success of scientific-discovery games for predicting protein tertiary and RNA secondary structures, we have developed an open software for coarse-grained RNA folding simulations, guided by human intuition. To determine the extent to which interactive simulations can accurately predict 3D RNA structures of increasing complexity and lengths (four RNAs with 22-47 nucleotides), an interactive experiment was conducted with 141 participants who had very little knowledge of nucleic acids systems and computer simulations, and had received only a brief description of the important forces stabilizing RNA structures. Their structures and full trajectories have been analyzed statistically and compared to standard replica exchange molecular dynamics simulations. Our analyses show that participants gain easily chemical intelligence to fold simple and nontrivial topologies, with little computer time, and this result opens the door for the use of human-guided simulations to RNA folding. Our experiment shows that interactive simulations have better chances of success when the user widely explores the conformational space. Interestingly, providing on-the-fly feedback of the root mean square deviation with respect to the experimental structure did not improve the quality of the proposed models.

}, keywords = {Access to Information, Computer Simulation, Feedback, Psychological, Humans, Internet, Models, Genetic, Models, Molecular, RNA, RNA Folding, Software, Solvents}, issn = {1542-0086}, doi = {10.1016/j.bpj.2017.05.047}, author = {Mazzanti, Liuba and Doutreligne, S{\'e}bastien and Gageat, Cedric and Philippe Derreumaux and Antoine Taly and Marc Baaden and Pasquali, Samuela} }