Project description
Innovative computational methods shed light on metalloenzyme reactivity
About a third of all enzymes are metalloenzymes, proteins with metal ion co-factors. Understanding their mechanisms of action is relevant to fields including medicine, biotechnology, catalysis and environmental science. Modelling and simulation are excellent tools. However, current computational methods are designed for strictly organic compounds or can accommodate metalloenzymes but are too computationally heavy for molecular dynamics simulations and reactivity studies. With the support of the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions programme, the MALAMER project aims to integrate machine-learning force fields, hybrid quantum mechanical / molecular mechanics methods and advanced sampling techniques to overcome these challenges. Outcomes will shed light on reactivities, supporting catalyst development and drug discovery.
Objective
Metalloenzymes play a crucial role in various biological functions, going from small molecule transportation to catalyzing essential metabolic ingredients. Understanding their reactivity is essential for advancing a broad range of fields and related industries, such as medicine, biotechnology, environmental science, and catalysis. The computational modelling of biomolecules is a pillar of new drug and catalyst design, but the common methods used for purely organic-based compounds, such as empirical force fields, cannot simply be applied in the presence of a metal centre due to their complex electronic structure. On the other hand, hybrid Quantum Mechanical/Molecular Mechanics (QM/MM) methods provide a way to study metalloenzymes, but their computational overheads prevent their large-scale use for molecular dynamics simulations and reactivity studies. The project MAchine Learning-Assisted simulation of MEtalloenzyme’s Reactivity (MALAMER), aims to revolutionize the simulation of metalloenzymes' reactivity by integrating machine-learning force fields with QM/MM methods, and advanced sampling techniques, allowing for an unprecedentedly accurate description of their activity. This innovative approach will lead to significant insights and applications in catalyst development and drug discovery, with a potential impact on several EU priority areas. The project will commence in September 2024 under the supervision of Prof. Lunghi at Trinity College Dublin, with a planned 3-month secondment at University College London to gain additional expertise in advanced sampling simulations from Prof. Salvalaglio. A comprehensive set of training, dissemination, exploitation, and communication activities are planned and they will be implemented with the help of the supervisors and Trinity College Dublin's human resources, training office, and innovation and technology transfer office.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
- natural sciences biological sciences biochemistry biomolecules
- natural sciences computer and information sciences computational science
- natural sciences chemical sciences catalysis
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Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
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HORIZON.1.2 - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA)
MAIN PROGRAMME
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Topic(s)
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Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
HORIZON-TMA-MSCA-PF-EF - HORIZON TMA MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
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Call for proposal
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Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) HORIZON-MSCA-2023-PF-01
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Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.
D02 CX56 Dublin
Ireland
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.