Adsorption of homopolypeptides on gold investigated using atomistic molecular dynamics
We investigate the role of dynamics on adsorption of peptides to gold surfaces using all-atom molecular dynamics simulations in explicit solvent. We choose six homopolypeptides [Ala10, Ser10, Thr10, Arg10, Lys10, and Gln10], for
which experimental surface coverages are not correlated with amino acid level affinities for gold, with the idea that dynamic properties may also play a role. To assess dynamics we determine both conformational movement and flexibility of the peptide within a given conformation. Low conformational
movement indicates stability of a given conformation and leads to less adsorption than homopolypeptides with faster conformational movement. Likewise, low flexibility within a given conformation also leads to less adsorption. Neither amino acid affinities nor dynamic considerations alone predict surface coverage; rather both quantities must be considered in peptide adsorption to gold surfaces.
