Collective Coordinate Simulation for Macromolecule Dynamics

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing simulation methods for predicting the dynamic behavior of biological macromolecules face challenges with local minimum trapping, leading to high calculation times and reduced accuracy, particularly when using molecular dynamics methods with compulsive forces.

Innovation Solution

A simulation apparatus and method that utilizes slow and fast coordinates, with collective coordinates derived through canonical transformations, to predict the behavior of a mass point system, reducing the number of coordinates and improving calculation efficiency.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If molecular dynamics method with compulsive force is used to escape local minimum, then calculation speed is improved, but calculation accuracy deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecalculation speedVSAvoidcalculation accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the coordinate system into slow coordinates (collective coordinates representing large-scale structural changes) and fast coordinates (remaining coordinates). By solving the motion equation only for the reduced set of slow coordinates while treating fast coordinates through adiabatic approximation, the method reduces computational complexity and avoids the need for compulsive forces, thereby maintaining accuracy while improving efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent extracts and eliminates redundant fast coordinates from the simulation, keeping only the essential slow coordinates that capture the dominant dynamic behavior. This extraction process reduces the dimensionality of the problem from 3N coordinates to a smaller set of collective coordinates, avoiding the accuracy-loss tradeoff associated with compulsive force methods.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Measurement precision

If conventional molecular dynamics method is used, then calculation accuracy is maintained, but simulation time increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecalculation accuracyVSAvoidsimulation time
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies dynamic adiabatic approximation where fast coordinates are assumed to instantaneously adjust to slow coordinates. This dynamic separation allows the system to evolve only in the essential slow coordinate space, dramatically reducing simulation time while preserving accuracy for the dominant collective motions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent transforms the problem from 3N-dimensional coordinate space to a lower-dimensional space of collective coordinates. By changing the dimensionality and focusing computation on the essential slow modes, the method achieves faster simulation without sacrificing accuracy in the relevant dynamic behavior.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Productivity

If compulsive force is applied to escape local minimum, then calculation efficiency is improved, but reliability of results deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecalculation efficiencyVSAvoidreliability of results
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the parameter representation from individual atomic coordinates to collective coordinates that naturally capture the essential dynamics. This parameter transformation allows the system to escape local minima through proper collective motion without requiring artificial compulsive forces, thereby maintaining result reliability while improving efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP2761519B1Simulation apparatus for predicting behavior of mass point system
Publication Date: 2026.03.18 FUJIFILM CORP
  • EP2761519B1 patent drawingFigure 1a~1c
  • EP2761519B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2761519B1 patent drawingFigure 3a~3c

AI summary

In order to achieve improved calculation accuracy and reduced calculation time in a simulation for predicting dynamic behavior of a system that includes a biological macromolecule, providing a simulation apparatus (10),including: a coordinate setting means (16) for setting slow coordinates and fast coordinates based on mass point coordinates; a coordinate extraction means (18) for obtaining a structure of the fast coordinates by subordinating the fast coordinates to the slow coordinates and obtaining, by taking into account influence of a change in the fast coordinates on the slow coordinates due to a change in the slow coordinates, a structure of the slow coordinates as a function of collective coordinate(s); and an inverse transformation means (20) for predicting time evolution of the mass point coordinates based on the collective coordinate(s), which can be obtained as a solution of a motion equation, structure of the slow coordinates, and structure of the fast coordinates.