Monte Carlo simulations of water clusters around Zn++ and a linear Zn++⋅CO2 complex

Abstract
As a step towards the elucidation of the reaction mechanism of the enzyme carbonic anhydrase, we have considered the solvation of Zn++ and a linear Zn++⋅CO2 complex, using Monte Carlo techniques. The simulated temperature of the system is 300 K. The coordination numbers for the first and second solvation shell are computed as 6 and 16, respectively, for the case of Zn++. When placed in the first solvation shell the CO2 molecule displaces one water molecule, apparently without altering the remaining water structure in the first shell.