A Machine Learning Based Intramolecular Potential for a Flexible Organic Molecule

06 February 2019, Version 1
This content is a preprint and has not undergone peer review at the time of posting.

Abstract

One limitation of the accuracy of computational predictions of protein-ligand binding free energies is the fixed functional form of the intramolecular component of the molecular mechanics force fields. Here, we employ the kernel regression machine learning technique to construct an analytical potential, using the Gaussian Approximation Potential software and framework, that reproduces the quantum mechanical potential energy surface of a small, flexible, drug-like molecule, 3-(benzyloxy)pyridin-2-amine. Challenges linked to the high dimensionality of the configurational space of the molecule are overcome by developing an iterative training protocol and employing a representation that separates short and long range interactions. The analytical model is connected to the MCPRO simulation software, which allows us to perform Monte Carlo simulations of the small molecule bound to two proteins, p38 MAP kinase and leukotriene A4 hydrolase, as well as in water. We demonstrate corrections to absolute protein-ligand binding free energies obtained with our machine learning based intramolecular model of up to 2 kcal/mol.

Keywords

Quantum mechanics
Force fields
Interatomic potentials
Free energy
Molecular mechanics
Gaussian approximation potential
Monte Carlo
Machine learning

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