Very fast prediction and rationalization of p K a values for protein–ligand complexes

The PROPKA method for the prediction of the pK(a) values of ionizable residues in proteins is extended to include the effect of non-proteinaceous ligands on protein pK(a) values as well as predict the change in pK(a) values of ionizable groups on the ligand itself. This new version of PROPKA (PROPKA 2.0) is, as much as possible, developed by adapting the empirical rules underlying PROPKA 1.0 to ligand functional groups. Thus, the speed of PROPKA is retained, so that the pK(a) values of all ionizable groups are computed in a matter of seconds for most proteins. This adaptation is validated by comparing PROPKA 2.0 predictions to experimental data for 26 protein-ligand complexes including trypsin, thrombin, three…

• SN
  Schweizerischer Nationalfonds zur Förderung der Wissenschaftlichen Forschung
• NF
  Norges Forskningsråd