<tt>MDRefine</tt>: A Python package for refining molecular dynamics trajectories with experimental data

Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations play a crucial role in resolving the underlying conformational dynamics of molecular systems. However, their capability to correctly reproduce and predict dynamics in agreement with experiments is limited by the accuracy of the force-field model. This capability can be improved by refining the structural ensembles or the force-field parameters. Furthermore, discrepancies with experimental data can be due to imprecise forward models, namely, functions mapping simulated structures to experimental observables. Here, we introduce MDRefine, a Python package aimed at implementing the refinement of the ensemble, the force field, and/or the forward model by comparing MD-generated trajectories with the experimental data. The software consists of several tools that can be employed separately from each other or combined together in different ways, providing a seamless interpolation between these three different types of refinement. We use some benchmark cases to show that the combined approach is superior to separately applied refinements. MDRefine has been released as an open-source package under the LGPLv2+ license. Source code, documentation, and examples are available at https://pypi.org/project/MDRefine and https://github.com/bussilab/MDRefine.

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Publication Details

Journal
The Journal of Chemical Physics
Published
2025-05-15
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1063/5.0256841
Citations
2
Primary Topic
Protein Structure and Dynamics
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
1.61
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article

<tt>MDRefine</tt>: A Python package for refining molecular dynamics trajectories with experimental data

Giovanni Bussi, Valerio Piomponi, Ivan Gilardoni, Thorben Fröhlking
2 citations
The Journal of Chemical Physics
Protein Structure and Dynamics
1.61
article

<tt>MDRefine</tt>: A Python package for refining molecular dynamics trajectories with experimental data

Giovanni Bussi, Valerio Piomponi, Ivan Gilardoni, Thorben Fröhlking
article en
2 citations

Abstract

Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations play a crucial role in resolving the underlying conformational dynamics of molecular systems. However, their capability to correctly reproduce and predict dynamics in agreement with experiments is limited by the accuracy of the force-field model. This capability can be improved by refining the structural ensembles or the force-field parameters. Furthermore, discrepancies with experimental data can be due to imprecise forward models, namely, functions mapping simulated structures to experimental observables. Here, we introduce MDRefine, a Python package aimed at implementing the refinement of the ensemble, the force field, and/or the forward model by comparing MD-generated trajectories with the experimental data. The software consists of several tools that can be employed separately from each other or combined together in different ways, providing a seamless interpolation between these three different types of refinement. We use some benchmark cases to show that the combined approach is superior to separately applied refinements. MDRefine has been released as an open-source package under the LGPLv2+ license. Source code, documentation, and examples are available at https://pypi.org/project/MDRefine and https://github.com/bussilab/MDRefine.

The Journal of Chemical PhysicsVol. 162(19)
University of Geneva (CH), Scuola Internazionale Superiore di Studi Avanzati (IT), AREA Science Park (IT), Vitenparken (NO)
Life below water
Openalex Percentile: Top 17%
Protein Structure and Dynamics
1.61
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