Molecular Dynamics Simulations of DOPC Lipid Bilayers: The Effect of Lennard-Jones Parameters of Hydrocarbon Chains

Abstract

The current Chemistry at Harvard Molecular Mechanics (CHARMM) force field cannot accurately describe the properties of unsaturated phospholipid membranes. In this paper, a series of simulations was performed in which the Lennard- Jones (L-J) parameters of lipid acyl chains of dioleoylphosphatidylcholine (DOPC) were systematically adjusted. The results showed that adjustment of the L-J parameters in lipid acyl chains can significantly improve the current CHARMM force field. It was found that the L-J parameters have different influences on the order parameters of the top half and bottom half of the chain, separated by the cis double bond. The order parameters of the top half and the bottom half of the chain are related to the area/lipid and the length of the chain, respectively.