Markus K. Dahlgren wrote:
Hi all!
I am new to the Gromacs mailing list and just started looking into Gromacs for
MD simulations. I have been working on converting BOSS output into automatic
NAMD input for small molecule ligands and now want to create a similar program
for Gromacs input. I have a question regarding the input files, as I find the
large number of files confusing.
What is the required files to start a Gromacs simulation? Using pdb2gmx you need
The required files are a coordinate file (many formats are acceptable), a
topology (.top), and simulation instructions (.mdp).
a pdb file. To get the parameters, ffbonded.itp, ffnonbonded.itp, atomtypes.atp
and *.rtp are needed? Is that all the files needed if these files completely
describe the input molecules? Also, does the new parameters for the ligand need
to go into the existing parameter files inside the XXX.ff folder? Or how can new
*.itp, *.rtp and *atp files be defined and called upon by pdb2gmx?
These files are only needed by pdb2gmx. In theory, you don't need them for
anything if you write a topology by hand. For instance, for a ligand, it
doesn't make much sense to incorporate all the new parameters into the
highest-level force field files just to have pdb2gmx write the same information
out; just create an .itp for whatever small molecule you have. pdb2gmx is only
really useful for macromolecules constructed of smaller building blocks.
I also read about the topology file in the manual. If a topology file would be
written by the program, what other files are needed? The topology would have
all atomtypes, names, charges, bonds, angles, and dihedrals. Would it be enough
to supply a nonbonded.itp file together with the *.top file and the pdb file?
The ffnonbonded.itp is unnecessary if everything is supplied in the .top - you
can see how the topology is completely constructed by running through one of the
many tutorial systems and getting a post-processed topology from grompp -pp.
Finally I have a question about the *.gro files. Are they always needed when
starting a simulation? For a new simulation, the last three columns (vx, vy,
vz) can be left out?
Many coordinate files can be used; a .gro is not specifically required. You are
correct about the velocities. Use "gen_vel = yes" to start a new simulation if
you do not have velocities you wish to preserve.
Sorry about asking about such trivial matters, but the number of files was
confusing and I was not sure what files were needed if I would bypass the
pdb2gmx step and write the topology file directly.
If you write the topology by hand or with some external software, then you can
bypass almost everything.
-Justin
--
========================================
Justin A. Lemkul
Ph.D. Candidate
ICTAS Doctoral Scholar
MILES-IGERT Trainee
Department of Biochemistry
Virginia Tech
Blacksburg, VA
jalemkul[at]vt.edu | (540) 231-9080
http://www.bevanlab.biochem.vt.edu/Pages/Personal/justin
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