MemGen creates multi-component lipid bilayer membranes for molecular dynamics simulations.
MemGen generates multi-component lipid membranes
for molecular dynamics simulations.
If you use structures generated by MemGen for a publicaiton, we kindly request that you cite this article:
Christopher J. Knight and Jochen S. Hub
MemGen: A general web server for the setup of lipid membrane simulation systems
Bioinformatics, 31:2897-2899 (2015), doi:10.1093/bioinformatics/btv292
MemGen is not restricted to certain force fields,
lipid types, or MD simulation software. MemGen provides
a PDB file of the membrane for download, which can be processed by any
MD software.
After uploading structure files of single lipid molecules, MemGen
aligns these lipids along the Z-axis and creates a more compact structure of
each one. This step in required to avoid atomic overlaps between adjacent lipids
while setting up the membrane. Subsequently, MemGen generates
the patch according to the requested number of lipids, mole fraction of lipid
types, water molecules per lipid, and salt concentration. Counter ions are always
added to neutralize the system.
MemGen should work with any all-atom or united-atom
lipid, regardless of the type of head group or tails, or even the number of tails.
We tested MemGen with lipids containing between 1 and
6 tails, numerous different lipid types, common and unusual sterols, alcohol and detergent molecules. Only coarse-grained lipids are
not supported.
Note that the membrane structure provided by MemGen is
highly ordered, so it requires energy minimization and careful equilibration. For membranes containing only
one type of lipid plus water, 10 nanoseconds of equlibration are often enough. For multi-component membranes
or systems containing ions, much longer equilibration may be required. Please check the equilibration from,
for instance, the convergence of box dimensions and potential energy.
MemGen does not require you to submit an email address or any
other personal information.
We keep the results of your job in the system for 28 days
in case you need to re-download or share the link, after which time it will expire.
Christopher J. Knight developed the website's front end, design, initial input processing, and lipid delineation. Jochen S. Hub designed the concept of MemGen and wrote the scripts involved in molecular modelling. The website is hosted by the GWDG. This project was supported by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (Emmy-Noehter Program and SFB 803/A12).
Depending on your options and file uploads, this may take several minutes.