Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 25, 2026

Author Spotlight: In Silico Creation and Impact of Carbonylated Amino Acids on Protein Structure and Function
Published on: April 26, 2024
Modification of 56ACARBO force field for molecular dynamic calculations of chitosan and its derivatives
Vladimir S Naumov1,2, Stanislav K Ignatov3
1N.I. Lobachevsky State University of Nizhny Novgorod, 23 Gagarin Avenue, Nizhny Novgorod, Russia, 603950. vsnaumov@yandex.ru.
Abstract:
The GROMOS 56ACARBO force field for the description of carbohydrates was modified for calculations of chitosan (poly-1,4-(N-acetyl)-β-D-glucopyranosamine-2) with protonated and non-protonated amino groups and its derivatives. Additional parameterization was developed on the basis of quantum chemical calculations. The modified force field (56ACARBO_CHT) allows performing the molecular dynamic calculations of chitosans with different degrees of protonation corresponding to various acidity of medium. Test calculations of the conformational transitions in the chitosan rings and polymeric chains as well as the chitosan nanocrystal dissolution demonstrate good agreement with experimental data. Graphical abstract The GROMOS 56ACARBO_CHT force field allows performing the molecular dynamic calculations of chitosans with different types of amio-group: free, protonated, substituted.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
Stability of Substituted Cyclohexanes
The two chair conformations of cyclohexanes undergo rapid interconversion at room temperature. Both forms have identical energies and stabilities, each comprising equal amounts of the equilibrium mixture. Replacing a hydrogen atom with a functional group makes the two conformations energetically non-equivalent.
For example, in...
Physical Properties of Carboxylic Acid Derivatives
Among the carboxylic acid derivatives, the boiling points of acid chlorides and esters are very similar and are the lowest in the series. Acid anhydrides have slightly higher boiling...
NMR and Mass Spectroscopy of Carboxylic Acids
While α protons of carboxylic acids absorb at 2–2.5 ppm, β protons absorb further upfield.
Carboxylic acids are easily identified by dissolving them in deuterium oxide, which results in a rapid exchange of the acidic protons with deuterium. This leads to the...
Chemical Shift: Internal References and Solvent Effects
The internal reference compound generally used in NMR spectroscopy is tetramethylsilane (TMS). TMS is preferred because it is chemically inert, soluble in NMR solvents, and easily removable. Also, the highly shielded methyl protons in TMS yield an intense...
Carboxylic Acids to Methylesters: Alkylation using Diazomethane
Structures of Carboxylic Acid Derivatives
Carboxylic acid derivatives contain an acyl group attached to a heteroatom such as chlorine, oxygen, or nitrogen. The carbonyl carbon and oxygen are both sp2-hybridized with an unhybridized p orbital.
The three sp2 orbitals of the carbonyl carbon form three σ bonds, one each with the carbonyl oxygen, the α carbon, and the heteroatom, whereas the other two sp2 orbitals of the carbonyl oxygen are occupied by the lone pairs. Further, the unhybridized p...

