Computer simulation of the cyclodextrin–phenylalanine complex

• Published in: Carbohydrate research Vol. 310; no. 4; pp. 253 - 259
• Main Authors: Grigera, J.Raul, Caffarena, Ernesto R., de Rosa, Santiago
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 01.08.1998
• Subjects: Cyclodextrin; dextrins; dynamics; Inclusion complexes; interactions; molecular conformation; molecular dyanamics; Molecular dynamics; phenylalanine; Phenylananine–Cyclodextrin complexes; solutions; Molecular dynamics; Cyclodextrin; Inclusion complexes; Phenylananine–Cyclodextrin complexes
• ISSN: 0008-6215; 1873-426X
• DOI: 10.1016/S0008-6215(98)00147-5

The results of the molecular dynamics simulations of the complexes of α-cyclodextrin- l-phenylalanine and β-cyclodextrine- L- phenylalanine in vacuo and in aqueous solution are presented. The trajectories of the insertion angle, rotation of the aromatic ring of the phenylalanine inside the macrocycle and the dihedral angle χ 2 (C α–C β–C γ–C D2) describing the relative movement of the aromatic ring with respect to the polar region give detailed information of the dynamics of the complexes. It is found that the complex with α-cyclodextrin in water is not stable, in agreement with experimental data, while in all other situations studied the complex is stable within the computational limits. Comparing the different cases and the experimental evidence it comes out that a simulation of the complexes without an explicit treatment of the solvent gives unreliable results.