Add Ions

Add Ions adds monatomic counterions around molecule models using AmberTools. Thanks to Wei Zhang (The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston) for implementing this tool. See also: Solvate, Write Prmtop

There are several ways to start Add Ions, a tool in the Structure Editing and Amber categories.

The model of interest should be chosen from the list. Multiple models can be chosen, but they will be considered individually rather than as a combined system.

The ions will be placed in electrostatically favorable locations according to a Coulombic potential on a grid. The molecule model must already include hydrogens and charge assignments; otherwise, dialogs will appear for running AddH and Add Charge as needed prior to adding ions. The potential grid is calculated using a distance-dependent dielectric and ignoring any solvent molecules. A solvent molecule found to overlap with an ion will be removed.

Ion types:

• Br-
• Cl-
• Cs+
• F-
• I-
• K+
• Li+
• Mg++
• Na+
• Rb+

OK initiates adding ions and dismisses the panel, while Apply adds ions without dismissing the panel. Addition may take several seconds; progress is reported in the status line. Close dismisses the panel without adding any ions. Help brings up this manual page in a browser window.

See the AmberTools addIons documentation for further details.