Comparison of three Monte Carlo conformational search strategies for a proteinlike homopolymer model: Folding thermodynamics and identification of low-energy structures
D. Gront et al., Comparison of three Monte Carlo conformational search strategies for a proteinlike homopolymer model: Folding thermodynamics and identification of low-energy structures, J CHEM PHYS, 113(12), 2000, pp. 5065-5071
Entropy sampling Monte Carlo, the replica method, and the classical Metropo
lis scheme were applied in numerical studies of the collapse transition in
a simple face-centered cubic lattice polymer. The force field of the model
consists of pairwise, contact-type, long-range interactions and a short-ran
ge potential based on the beta-sheet definition assumed in the model. The a
bility to find the lowest energy conformation by various Monte Carlo method
s and the computational cost associated with each was examined. It is shown
that all of the methods generally provide the same picture of the collapse
transition. However, the most complete thermodynamic description of the tr
ansition derives from the results of entropy sampling Monte Carlo simulatio
ns, but this is the most time-consuming method. The replica method is shown
to be the most effective and efficient in searching for the lowest energy
conformation. The possible consequences of these findings for the developme
nt of simulation strategies for the folding of model proteins are discussed
briefly. (C) 2000 American Institute of Physics. [S0021-9606(00)50836-8].