Abstract.
The biological activity of a polypeptide strongly depends on its 3D structure. Ab initio prediction of the native structure from the sequence of amino acids has long motivated the development of an optimum energy model such that interactions present in the native conformation are stronger than those present in nonnative conformations and of algorithms capable of finding the basin of lowest free energy among an astronomically large number of possible conformations. Despite recent progress in our understanding of the factors responsible for both polypeptide stability and formation, computer simulations of polypeptide models are still far from being practical software tools for biologists. In this work, state-of-the-art computer simulations aimed at ab initio structure prediction in aqueous solution are reviewed and their strengths and weaknesses are highlighted.
Similar content being viewed by others
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
Received: 23 June 1999 / Accepted: 20 September 1999 / Published online: 15 December 1999
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Derreumaux, P. Ab initio polypeptide structure prediction. Theor Chem Acc 104, 1–6 (2000). https://doi.org/10.1007/s002149900095
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s002149900095