Molecular dynamics simulation of monoalkyl glycoside micelles in aqueous solution: influence of carbohydrate headgroup stereochemistry

Comparative molecular dynamics simulations of n-octyl-beta-D-galactopyranoside (beta-C8Gal) and n-octyl-beta-D-glucopyranoside (beta-C8Glc) micelles in aqueous solution have been performed to explore the influence of carbohydrate stereochemistry on glycolipid properties at the atomic level. In particular, we explore the hypothesis that differences in T(m) and T(c) for beta-C8Gal and beta-C8Glc in lyotropic systems arise from a more extensive hydrogen bonding network between beta-C8Gal headgroups relative to beta-C8Glc, due to the axial 4-OH group in beta-C8Gal. Good agreement of the 13 ns micelle-water simulations with available experimental information is found. The micelles exhibit a similar shape, size, and degree of exposed alkyl chain surface area. We find net inter- and intra-headgroup hydrogen bonding is also similar for beta-C8Gal and beta-C8Glc, although n-octyl-beta-D-galactopyranoside micelles do exhibit a slightly greater degree of inter- and intra-headgroup hydrogen bonding. However, the main distinction in the calculated microscopic behavior of beta-C8Glc and beta-C8Gal micelles lies in solvent interactions, where beta-d-glucosyl headgroups are considerably more solvated (mainly at the equatorial O4 oxygen). These results agree with preceding theoretical and experimental studies of monosaccharides in aqueous solution. A number of long water residence times are found for solvent surrounding both micelle types, the largest of which are associated with surface protrusions involving headgroup clusters. Our simulations, therefore, predict differences in hydrogen bonding for the two headgroup stereochemistries, including a small difference in inter-headgroup interactions, which may contribute to the higher T(m) and T(c) values of beta-C8Gal surfactants relative to beta-C8Glc in lyotropic systems.