This function provides a collection of elastic network model (ENM)
force fields for normal modes analysis (NMA) of protein structures. It
returns a function for calculating the residue-residue spring force
constants. The calpha force field - originally developed by Konrad
Hinsen - is the recommended one for most applications. It employs a
spring force constant differentiating between nearest-neighbour pairs
along the backbone and all other pairs. The force constant function
was parameterized by fitting to a local minimum of a crambin model
using the AMBER94 force field.
The implementation of the ANM (Anisotropic Network Model)
force field originates from the lab of Ivet Bahar. It uses a
simplified (step function) spring force constant based on the
pair-wise distance. A variant of this from the Jernigan lab is the
so-called pfANM (parameter free ANM) with interactions that
fall off with the square of the distance.
The calphax force field is an extension of the original
calpha force field by Hinsen. In this implementation we have
included specific force constants for disulfide bridges, helix 1-4
interactions, and beta sheet bridges.
The sdENM (by Dehouck and Mikhailov) employs residue specific
spring force constants. It has been parameterized through a
statistical analysis of a total of 1500 NMR ensembles.
The REACH force field (by Moritsugu and Smith) is
parameterized based on variance-covariance matrices obtained from MD
simulations. It employs force constants that fall off exponentially
with distance for non-bonded pairs.
See references for more details on the individual force fields.