QM/MM studies of enzymes

Combined quantum-mechanics/molecular-mechanics (QM/MM) methods are making rapid progress both methodologically and with respect to their range of application. Mechanistic studies on enzymes, including contributions towards the understanding of enzyme catalysis, continue to be a major target. They are joined by calculations of pKa values, redox properties, ground- and excited-state spectroscopic parameters, and excited-state dynamics. Methodological advances include improved QM/MM schemes, in particular new approaches for an effective treatment of the QM–MM electrostatic interactions, and the incorporation of new efficient and accurate QM methods in QM/MM schemes.