The temperature of maximum density for amino acid aqueous solutions. An experimental and molecular dynamics study

Abstract

The temperature of maximum density (TMD) for aqueous solutions of seven amino acids has been experimentally determined by means of density measurements versus temperature. The selected amino acids have been arginine, cysteine, glutamic acid, glutamine, lysine, methionine, and threonine. The TMD dependence against composition has been obtained from the experimental data and characterized through the Despretz constant. All amino acids induce a depression in the TMD as compared with that of pure water. If the mole fraction is selected as composition variable, a clear dependence against amino acid molar mass is observed, which disappears when TMDs are represented versus mass fraction; almost all data shrink onto a single straight line. It must be pointed out that the TMD depressions for all studied amino acids are quite larger than those previously observed for proteins. This suggests that TMDs for proteins cannot be explained as a simple, additive result of its constituents, and, therefore complex cooperative phenomena seem to take place. The partial molar volume at infinite dilution has been obtained from density data, and a consistency test between its temperature dependence and that of temperature of maximum density versus composition has been performed, obtaining satisfactory results. A molecular dynamics study for all the studied systems has been also carried out. Amino acids have been modeled through the OPLS-AA force field, whereas the TIP4P/2005 model was used for water. The temperature of maximum density and partial molar volume have been calculated from the simulated density, and the results are compared with experimental data. Although the agreement is only fair, similar qualitative trends were obtained. The simulated Despretz constants are smaller than the experimental ones, a result that was already previously observed for methanol aqueous solutions. A structural analysis of water molecules in solution along the MD trajectories showed no enhancement of ice-like structures in complete agreement with the TMD decrease with concentration.