QuantumBind-RBFE: Accurate Relative Binding Free Energy Calculations Using Neural Network Potentials

Fuente: arXiv
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Autores principales: Zariquiey, Francesc Sabanés, Farr, Stephen E., Doerr, Stefan, De Fabritiis, Gianni
Formato: Preprint
Publicado: 2025
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author Zariquiey, Francesc Sabanés
Farr, Stephen E.
Doerr, Stefan
De Fabritiis, Gianni
author_facet Zariquiey, Francesc Sabanés
Farr, Stephen E.
Doerr, Stefan
De Fabritiis, Gianni
contents Accurate prediction of protein-ligand binding affinities is crucial in drug discovery, particularly during hit-to-lead and lead optimization phases, however, limitations in ligand force fields continue to impact prediction accuracy. In this work, we validate relative binding free energy (RBFE) accuracy using neural network potentials (NNPs) for the ligands. We utilize a novel NNP model, AceFF 1.0, based on the TensorNet architecture for small molecules that broadens the applicability to diverse drug-like compounds, including all important chemical elements and supporting charged molecules. Using established benchmarks, we show overall improved accuracy and correlation in binding affinity predictions compared with GAFF2 for molecular mechanics and ANI2-x for NNPs. Slightly less accuracy but comparable correlations with OPLS4. We also show that we can run the NNP simulations at 2 fs timestep, at least two times larger than previous NNP models, providing significant speed gains. The results show promise for further evolutions of free energy calculations using NNPs while demonstrating its practical use already with the current generation. The code and NNP model are publicly available for research use.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2501_01811
institution arXiv
publishDate 2025
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle QuantumBind-RBFE: Accurate Relative Binding Free Energy Calculations Using Neural Network Potentials
Zariquiey, Francesc Sabanés
Farr, Stephen E.
Doerr, Stefan
De Fabritiis, Gianni
Chemical Physics
Machine Learning
Computational Physics
Accurate prediction of protein-ligand binding affinities is crucial in drug discovery, particularly during hit-to-lead and lead optimization phases, however, limitations in ligand force fields continue to impact prediction accuracy. In this work, we validate relative binding free energy (RBFE) accuracy using neural network potentials (NNPs) for the ligands. We utilize a novel NNP model, AceFF 1.0, based on the TensorNet architecture for small molecules that broadens the applicability to diverse drug-like compounds, including all important chemical elements and supporting charged molecules. Using established benchmarks, we show overall improved accuracy and correlation in binding affinity predictions compared with GAFF2 for molecular mechanics and ANI2-x for NNPs. Slightly less accuracy but comparable correlations with OPLS4. We also show that we can run the NNP simulations at 2 fs timestep, at least two times larger than previous NNP models, providing significant speed gains. The results show promise for further evolutions of free energy calculations using NNPs while demonstrating its practical use already with the current generation. The code and NNP model are publicly available for research use.
title QuantumBind-RBFE: Accurate Relative Binding Free Energy Calculations Using Neural Network Potentials
topic Chemical Physics
Machine Learning
Computational Physics
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2501.01811