Metadynamics simulations of ligand binding to GPCRs

Recent developments in metadynamics simulation techniques for ligand binding to Class A GPCRs are described and the results obtained elucidated. The computational protocol makes good use of modern massively parallel hardware, making simulations of the binding/unbinding process routine. The simulations reveal unprecedented details of the ligand-binding pathways, including multiple binding sites in many cases. Free energies of binding are reproduced very well and the simulations allow prediction of the efficacy (agonist, antagonist etc.) of ligands.