FoldX

FoldX is a protein design algorithm that uses an empirical force field. It can determine the energetic effect of point mutations as well as the interaction energy of protein complexes (including Protein-DNA). FoldX can mutate protein and DNA side chains using a probability-based rotamer library, while exploring alternative conformations of the surrounding side chains.

Applications

Prediction of the effect of point mutations or human SNPs on protein stability or protein complexes
Protein design to improve stability or modify affinity or specificity
Homology modeling

The FoldX force field

The energy function includes terms that have been found to be important for protein stability, where the energy of unfolding (∆G) of a target protein is calculated using the equation:

∆G = ∆G_vdw + ∆G_solvH + ∆G_solvP + ∆G_hbond + ∆G_wb + ∆G_el + ∆S_mc + ∆S_sc

Where ∆G_vdw is the sum of the Van der Waals contributions of all atoms with respect to the same interactions with the solvent. ∆G_solvH and ∆G_solvP is the difference in solvation energy for apolar and polar groups, respectively, when going from the unfolded to the folded state. ∆Ghbond is the free energy difference between the formation of an intra-molecular hydrogen-bond compared to inter-molecular hydrogen-bond formation (with solvent). ∆G_wb is the extra stabilizing free energy provided by a water molecule making more than one hydrogen-bond to the protein (water bridges) that cannot be taken into account with non-explicit solvent approximations. ∆G_el is the electrostatic contribution of charged groups, including the helix dipole. ∆S_mc is the entropy cost for fixing the backbone in the folded state. This term is dependent on the intrinsic tendency of a particular amino acid to adopt certain dihedral angles. ∆S_sc is the entropic cost of fixing a side chain in a particular conformation. The energy values of ∆G_vdw, ∆G_solvH, ∆G_solvP and ∆G_hbond attributed to each atom type have been derived from a set of experimental data, and ∆S_mc and ∆S_sc have been taken from theoretical estimates. The Van der Waals contributions are derived from vapor to water energy transfer, while in the protein we are going from solvent to protein.

For protein-protein interactions, or protein-DNA interactions FoldX calculates ∆∆G of interaction :

∆∆G_ab = ∆G_ab- (∆G_a + ∆G_b) + ∆G_kon + ∆S_sc

∆G_kon reflects the effect of electrostatic interactions on the k_on. ∆S_sc is the loss of translational and rotational entropy upon making the complex.

Key features

RepairPDB: energy minimization of a protein structure
BuildModel: in silico mutagenesis or homology modeling with predicted energy changes
AnalyseComplex: interaction energy calculation
Stability: prediction of free energy changes between alternative structures
AlaScan: in silico alanine scan of a protein structure with predicted energy changes
SequenceDetail: per residue free energy decomposition into separate energy terms (hydrogen bonding, Van der Waals energy, electrostatics, ...)

Graphical interface

Native FoldX is run from the command line. A FoldX plugin for the YASARA molecular graphics program has been developed to access various FoldX tools inside a graphical environment. The results of e.g. in silico mutations or homology modeling with FoldX can be directly analyzed on screen.

External links