Chapter 3: Atomistic Simulation of Lignocellulosic Biomass and Associated Cellulosomal Protein Complexes

Loukas Petridis, Jiancong Xu, Michael F. Crowley, Jeremy C. Smith, Xiaolin Cheng

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingChapterpeer-review

5 Scopus Citations

Abstract

Computer simulations have been performed to obtain an atomic-level understanding of lignocellulose structure and the assembly of its associated cellulosomal protein complexes. First, a CHARMM molecular mechanics force field for lignin is derived and validated by performing a molecular dynamics simulation of a crystal of a lignin fragment molecule and comparing simulation-derived structural features with experimental results. Together with the existing force field for polysaccharides, this work provides the basis for full simulations of lignocellulose. Second, the underlying molecular mechanism governing the assembly of various cellulosomal modules is investigated by performing a novel free-energy calculation of the cohesin-dockerin dissociation. Our calculation indicates a free-energy barrier of ∼17 kcal/mol and further reveals a stepwise dissociation pathway involving both the central β-sheet interface and its adjacent solvent-exposed loop/turn regions clustered at both ends of the β-barre structure.

Original languageAmerican English
Title of host publicationComputational Modeling in Lignocellulosic Biofuel Production
Subtitle of host publicationACS Symposium Series, Vol. 1052
PublisherAmerican Chemical Society
Pages55-73
Number of pages19
ISBN (Print)9780841225718
DOIs
StatePublished - 14 Dec 2010

Publication series

NameACS Symposium Series
Volume1052
ISSN (Print)0097-6156
ISSN (Electronic)1947-5918

NREL Publication Number

  • NREL/CH-2700-54289

Keywords

  • associated cellulosomal protein complexes
  • biomass

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