GPU-Accelerated Implementation of Constant-pH Molecular Dynamics in NAMD

We introduce a GPU-based implementation of the hybrid nonequilibrium molecular dynamics-Monte Carlo constant-pH simulation method within the NAMD package. Benchmark results demonstrate that the new implementation achieves a substantial speedup over its CPU-based counterpart, while preserving the same level of accuracy. This performance gain expands the practical applicability of pH-controlled, all-atom simulations across a wide range of biomolecular systems. Although exhaustive enumeration of all possible protonation-state combinations remains a major challenge within conventional molecular dynamics frameworks, the ability to simulate at a defined pH─combined with GPU-acceleration─offers a powerful and efficient means for investigating dynamic protonation profiles of biomolecules.

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Publication Details

Journal
Journal of Chemical Information and Modeling
Published
2025-12-09
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jcim.5c02162
Primary Topic
Protein Structure and Dynamics
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
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article

GPU-Accelerated Implementation of Constant-pH Molecular Dynamics in NAMD

Sarah Moe, Christophe J. Chipot, Benoı̂t Roux
Journal of Chemical Information and Modeling
Protein Structure and Dynamics
article

GPU-Accelerated Implementation of Constant-pH Molecular Dynamics in NAMD

Sarah Moe, Christophe J. Chipot, Benoı̂t Roux
article en

Abstract

We introduce a GPU-based implementation of the hybrid nonequilibrium molecular dynamics-Monte Carlo constant-pH simulation method within the NAMD package. Benchmark results demonstrate that the new implementation achieves a substantial speedup over its CPU-based counterpart, while preserving the same level of accuracy. This performance gain expands the practical applicability of pH-controlled, all-atom simulations across a wide range of biomolecular systems. Although exhaustive enumeration of all possible protonation-state combinations remains a major challenge within conventional molecular dynamics frameworks, the ability to simulate at a defined pH─combined with GPU-acceleration─offers a powerful and efficient means for investigating dynamic protonation profiles of biomolecules.

Journal of Chemical Information and ModelingVol. 65(24)
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (US), University of Chicago (US), Centre National pour la Recherche Scientifique et Technique (CNRST) (MA), Institute of Theoretical Physics (CN), Université de Lorraine (FR)
Openalex Percentile: Top 64%
Protein Structure and Dynamics
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