Sampling errors in free energy simulations of small molecules in lipid bilayers ☆
Free energy simulations of solute-bilayer systems are prone to sampling errors.
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Errors occur during solute adsorption, insertion, and crossing the bilayer center.
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Hidden sampling barriers often involve lipid headgroups.
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Initial conformations can dramatically influence sampling errors.
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Barriers at the bilayer center usually depend on the bilayer's bending modulus.