Structural analysis of Val-Trp dipeptide: Molecular mechanics and DFT calculations

ABSTRACT. The present study of biologically active Val-Trp dipeptide has been performed using computer modeling methods. To search the stable structures the different theoretically possible conformations of this molecule were calculated within molecular mechanics framework. The results showed that two types of conformations, folded and extended, are realized for this compound. Afterwards, the most stable conformations of the Val-Trp dipeptide were optimized using DFT/B3LYP level of theory with 6-31+G(d,p) basis set. The geometry, energy parameters, electronic properties, molecular electrostatic potential (MEP) map, highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) and lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO) energies, chemical reactivity descriptors, nonlinear optical properties such as the electric dipole moment and polarizability were computed and compared for the optimized extended and folded structures of this molecule. The differences in the electronic structure between two characteristic conformations of title dipeptide were revealed.  It was found the redistribution of charges as a result of folding of the peptide chain leads to a decrease in the dipole moment of this molecule. The effects of intramolecular hydrogen bonding on geometry of Val-Trp dipeptide were observed.   KEY WORDS: Val-Trp dipeptide, Molecular Mechanics, DFT calculations   Bull. Chem. Soc. Ethiop. 2023, 37(3), 757-770.                                                            DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.4314/bcse.v37i3.17