Generalized Langevin Methods for Calculating Transmembrane Diffusivity

The membrane permeability coefficient of a solute can be estimated using the solubility-diffusion model. This model requires the diffusivity profile (D(z)) of the solute as it moves along the transmembrane axis, z. The generalized Langevin equation provides one strategy for calculating position-dependent diffusivity from straightforward molecular dynamics simulations where the solute is restrained to a series of positions on the z-coordinate by a harmonic potential. The diffusivity of the solute is calculated from its correlation functions, which are related to the friction experienced by the solute. Roux and Hummer have derived expressions for the diffusion coefficient from the velocity autocorrelation function (VACF) and position autocorrelation function (PACF), respectively. In this work, these methods are validated by calculating the diffusivity of H₂O and O₂ in homogeneous liquids. These methods are then used to calculate transmembrane diffusivity profiles. The VACF method is less sensitive to thermostat forces and has incrementally lower errors but is more sensitive to the spring constant of the harmonic restraint. For the permeation of a solute through a lipid bilayer, the diffusion coefficients calculated using these methods provided significantly different results. Long-lived correlations of the restrained solute due to inhomogeneities in the bilayer can result in spuriously low diffusivity when using the PACF method. The method based on the VACF does not have this issue and predicts higher rates of diffusion inside the bilayer.