Coupled advances in empirical force fields and classical molecular dynamics simulation methodologies, combined with the availability
of faster computers, has lead to significant progress towards accurately representing the structure and dynamics of biomolecular
systems, such as proteins, nucleic acids, and lipids in their native environments. Thanks to these advances, simulation results
are moving beyond merely evaluating force fields, displaying expected structural fluctuations, or demonstrating low root-mean-squared
deviations from experimental structures and now provide believable structural insight into a variety of processes such as
the stabilization of A-DNA in mixed water and ethanol solution or reversible
β-peptide folding in methanol. The purpose of this overview is to take stock of these recent advances in biomolecular simulation
and point out some common deficiencies exposed in longer simulations. The most significant methodological advances relate
to the development of fast methods to properly treat long-range electrostatic interactions, and in this regard the fast Ewald
methods are becoming the de facto standard.
Key words: Molecular dynamics - Biomolecular simulation
Received: 9 April 1998 / Accepted: 21 May 1998 / Published online: 13 August 1998