Macromolecular solvation energies derived from small molecule crystal morphology.

The morphology of small molecule crystals provides a model for evaluating surface solvation energies in a system with similar packing density to that observed for amino acid residues in proteins. The solvation energies associated with the transfer of methylene and carboxyl groups between vacuum and aqueous phases are estimated to be approx. $40 and -260 cal/A2, respectively, from an analysis of the morphology of succinic acid crystals. These solvation energies predict values for contact angles in reasonable agreement with measurements determined from macroscopic monolayer surfaces. Transfer free energies between vapor and water phases for a series of carboxylic acids are also predicted reasonably well by these solvation energies, provided the surface exposure of different groups is quantitated with the molecular surface area rather than the more traditional accessible surface area. In general, molecular surfaces and molecular surface areas are seen to have important advantages for characterizing the structure and energetics of macromolecular surfaces. Crystal faces of succinic acid with the lowest surface energies in aqueous solution are characteristically smooth. Increasing surface roughness and apolarity are associated with higher surface energies, which suggests an approach for modifying the surface properties of proteins and other macromolecules.