Modelling the effect of osmolytes on peptide mechanical unfolding

Osmolyte molecules can be classified in two different groups with respect to their effect on protein stability: osmoprotectants, which stabilize the protein or peptide folded state, and denaturants, which favor the denaturated state. Mechanical unfolding free energy of a model peptide has been obtained from umbrella sampling and weighted histogram analysis method, and the effect of four different osmolytes on the free energy difference between the folded and the denaturated state have been calculated. The observed trend mirrors the expected behavior of the studied osmolytes and unfolding pathways analysis allows an insight in the osmolyte action mechanism.