• BMB Reports
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• v.50 no.2
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• pp.55-57
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• 2017

Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) together with MD2, one of the key pattern recognition receptors for a pathogen-associated molecular pattern, activates innate immunity by recognizing lipopolysaccharide (LPS) of Gram-negative bacteria. Although LBP and CD14 catalyze LPS transfer to the TLR4/MD2 complex, the detail mechanisms underlying this dynamic LPS transfer remain elusive. Using negative-stain electron microscopy, we visualized the dynamic intermediate complexes during LPS transfer-LBP/LPS micelles and ternary CD14/LBP/LPS micelle complexes. We also reconstituted the entire cascade of LPS transfer to TLR4/MD2 in a total internal reflection fluorescence (TIRF) microscope for a single molecule fluorescence analysis. These analyses reveal longitudinal LBP binding to the surface of LPS micelles and multi-round binding/unbinding of CD14 to single LBP/LPS micelles via key charged residues on LBP and CD14. Finally, we reveal that a single LPS molecule bound to CD14 is transferred to TLR4/MD2 in a TLR4-dependent manner. These discoveries, which clarify the molecular mechanism of dynamic LPS transfer to TLR4/MD2 via LBP and CD14, provide novel insights into the initiation of innate immune responses.

• Carbon letters
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.316-324
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• 2010

The effects of geometrical parameters on mechanical properties of graphite-vinylester nanocomposites and their constituents (matrix, reinforcement and interface) are studied using molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. Young's modulii of 1.3 TPa and 1.16 TPa are obtained for graphene layer and for graphite layers respectively. Interfacial shear strength resulting from the molecular dynamic (MD) simulations for graphene-vinylester is found to be 256 MPa compared to 126 MPa for graphitevinylester. MD simulations prove that exfoliation improves mechanical properties of graphite nanoplatelet vinylester nanocomposites. Also, the effects of bromination on the mechanical properties of vinylester and interfacial strength of the graphene.brominated vinylester nanocomposites are investigated. MD simulation revealed that, although there is minimal effect of bromination on mechanical properties of pure vinylester, bromination tends to enhance interfacial shear strength between graphite-brominated vinylester/graphene-brominated vinylester in a considerable magnitude.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.18 no.5
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• pp.501-509
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• 1997

In recent papers[Bull. Kor. Chem. Soc. 1996, 17, 735; ibid 1997, 18, 478] we reported results of molecular dynamics (MD) simulations for the thermodynamic, structural, and dynamic properties of liquid normal alkanes, from n-butane to n-heptadecane, using three different models. Two of the three classes of models are collapsed atomic models while the third class is an atomistically detailed model. In the present paper we present results of MD simulations for the corresponding properties of liquid branched-chain alkanes using the same models. The thermodynamic property reflects that the intermolecular interactions become weaker as the shape of the molecule tends to approach that of a sphere and the surface area decreases with branching. Not like observed in the straight-chain alkanes, the structural properties of model Ⅲ from the site-site radial distribution function, the distribution functions of the average end-to-end distance and the root-mean-squared radii of gyration are not much different from those of models Ⅰ and Ⅱ. The branching effect on the self diffusion of liquid alkanes is well predicted from our MD simulation results but not on the viscosity and thermal conductivity.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.18 no.5
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• pp.478-484
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• 1997

In a recent paper[Bull. Kor. Chem. Soc. 17, 735 (1996)] we reported results of molecular dynamic (MD) simulations for the thermodynamic and structural properties of liquid n-alkanes, from n-butane to n-heptadecane, using three different models. Two of the three classes of models are collapsed atomic models while the third class is an atomistically detailed model. In the present paper we present results of MD simulations for the dynamic properties of liquid n-alkanes using the same models. The agreement of two self-diffusion coefficients of liquid n-alkanes calculated from the mean square displacements (MSD) via the Einstein equation and the velocity auto-correlation (VAC) functions via the Green-Kubo relation is excellent. The viscosities of n-butane to n-nonane calculated from the stress auto-correlation (SAC) functions and the thermal conductivities of n-pentane to n-decane calculated from the heat-flux auto-correlation (HFAC) functions via the Green-Kubo relations are smaller than the experimental values by approximately a factor of 2 and 4, respectively.

• Interaction and multiscale mechanics
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.115-129
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• 2012

Nanowires (NWs) have attracted intensive researches owing to the broad applications that arise from their remarkable properties. Over the last decade, immense numerical studies have been conducted for the numerical investigation of mechanical properties of NWs. Among these numerical simulations, the molecular dynamics (MD) plays a key role. Herein we present a brief review on the current state of the MD investigation of nanowires. Emphasis will be placed on the FCC metal NWs, especially the Cu NWs. MD investigations of perfect NWs' mechanical properties under different deformation conditions including tension, compression, torsion and bending are firstly revisited. Following in succession, the studies for defected NWs including the defects of twin boundaries (TBs) and pre-existing defects are discussed. The different deformation mechanism incurred by the presentation of defects is explored and discussed. This review reveals that the numerical simulation is an important tool to investigate the properties of NWs. However, the substantial gaps between the experimental measurements and MD results suggest the urgent need of multi-scale simulation technique.

• Multiscale and Multiphysics Mechanics
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• v.1 no.4
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• pp.327-340
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• 2016

Poly(${\epsilon}$-caprolactone) (PCL) diol, with good biodegradation and biocompatibility, is one of the widely used soft segments (SSs) in composing bio-polyester-urethanes (Bio-PUs), which show great potential in both biomedical and tissue engineering applications. Properties of Bio-PUs are tunable by combining SS monomers with different molecular weights, structures, modifications, and ratio of components. Although numbers of research have reported many Bio-PUs properties, few studies have been done at the molecular scale. In this study, we use molecular dynamic (MD) simulation to construct atomistic models for two commonly used PCL diol SSs with different molecular weights 1247.58 Da and 1932.42 Da. We compare the simulation results by using two widely used classical force fields for organic molecules: Consistent Valence Force Field (CVFF) and CHARMM General Force Field (CGenFF), and discuss the validity and accuracy. Melt density, volume, polymer conformations, transition temperature, and mechanical properties of PCL diols are calculated and compared with experiments. Our results show that both force fields provide accurate predictions on the properties of PCL diol system at the molecular scale and could help the design of future Bio-PUs.

• Advances in nano research
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.105-111
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• 2023

Integrin αvβ3 is one of the receptors expressed in cancer cells. RGD peptides have the potential to target integrin αvβ3 (receptor), which can increase drug delivery efficiency. In this study, 55 different RGD dimer motifs were investigated. At first, the binding energy between RGD peptides and the receptor was calculated using molecular docking. Then, three RGD peptides with the strongest binding energy with the receptor were selected, and their dynamic adsorption on the receptor was simulated by molecular dynamics (MD). The obtained results showed that a sequence that has RGD at the beginning and end with tryptophan (TRP) has strong Lennard-Jones (LJ) and electrostatic interactions with Integrin αvβ3 and has changed the conformation of receptor significantly, which analyzed by root mean square deviation (RMSD) and radius of gyration.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.441-446
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• 2002

We have presented the results of thermodynamic, structural and dynamic properties of liquid benzene, toluene, and p-xylene in canonical (NVT) ensemble at 293.15 K by molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. The molecular model adopted for these molecules is a combination of the rigid body treatment for the benzene ring and an atomistically detailed model for the methyl hydrogen atoms. The calculated pressures are too low in the NVT ensemble MD simulations. The various thermodynamic properties reflect that the intermolecular interactions become stronger as the number of methyl group attached into the benzene ring increases. The pronounced nearest neighbor peak in the center of mass g(r) of liquid benzene at 293.15 K, provides the interpretation that nearest neighbors tend to be perpendicular. Two self-diffusion coefficients of liquid benzene at 293.15 K calculated from MSD and VAC function are in excellent agreement with the experimental measures. The self-diffusion coefficients of liquid toluene also agree well with the experimental ones for toluene in benzene and for toluene in cyclohexane.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.19 no.10
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• pp.1068-1072
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• 1998

We present results of molecular dynamic (MD) simulations for the segmental motion of liquid n-butane as the base case for a consistent study for conformational transition from one rotational isomeric state to another in long chains of liquid n-alkanes. The behavior of the hazard plots for n-butane obtained from our MD simulations are compared with that for n-butane of Brownian dynamics study. The MD results for the conformational transition of n-butane by a Poisson process form the total first passage times are different from those from the separate t-g and g-t first passage times. This poor agreement is probably due to the failure of the detailed balance between the fractions of trans and gauche. The enhancement of the transitions t-g and g-t at short time regions are also discussed.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.447-453
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• 2002

In this paper we have presented the results of thermodynamic, structural, and dynamic properties of model systems for liquid benzene, toluene and p-xylene in an isobaric-isothermal (NpT) ensemble at 283.15, 303.15, 323.15, and 343.15 K using molecular dynamics (MD) simulation. This work is initiated to compensate for our previous canonical (NVT) ensemble MD simulations [Bull. Kor. Chem. Soc. 2001, 23, 441] for the same systems in which the calculated pressures were too low. The calculated pressures in the NpT ensemble MD simulations are close to 1 atm and the volume of each system increases with increasing temperature. The first and second peaks in the center of mass g(r) diminish gradually and the minima increase as usual for the three liquids as the temperature increases. The three peaks of the site-site gC-C(r) at 283.15 K support the perpendicular structure of nearest neighbors in liquid benzene. Two self-diffusion coefficients of liquid benzene via the Einstein equation and via the Green-Kubo relation are in excellent agreement with the experimental measures. The self-diffusion coefficients of liquid toluene and p-xylene are in accord with the trend that the self-diffusion coefficient decreases with increasing number of methyl group. The friction constants calculated from the force auto-correlation (FAC) function with the assumption that the fast random force correlation ends at time which the FAC has the first negative value give a correct qualitative trends: decrease with increase of temperature and increase with the number of methyl group. The friction constants calculated from the FAC's are always less than those obtained from the friction-diffusion relation which reflects that the random FAC decays slower than the total FAC as described by Kubo [Rep. Prog. Phys. 1966, 29, 255].