MMGNN: A Molecular Merged Graph Neural Network for Explainable Solvation Free Energy Prediction

MMGNN: A Molecular Merged Graph Neural Network for Explainable Solvation Free Energy Prediction

Wenjie Du, Shuai Zhang, Di Wu, Jun Xia, Ziyuan Zhao, Junfeng Fang, Yang Wang

Proceedings of the Thirty-Third International Joint Conference on Artificial Intelligence
Main Track. Pages 5808-5816. https://doi.org/10.24963/ijcai.2024/642

In this paper, we address the challenge of accurately modeling and predicting Gibbs free energy in solute-solvent interactions, a pivotal yet complex aspect in the field of chemical modeling. Traditional approaches, primarily relying on deep learning models, face limitations in capturing the intricate dynamics of these interactions. To overcome these constraints, we introduce a novel framework, molecular modeling graph neural network (MMGNN), which more closely mirrors real-world chemical processes.Specifically, MMGNN explicitly models atomic interactions such as hydrogen bonds by initially forming indiscriminate connections between intermolecular atoms, which are then refined using an attention-based aggregation method, tailoring to specific solute-solvent pairs. To address the challenges of non-interactive or repulsive atomic interactions, MMGNN incorporates interpreters for nodes and edges in the merged graph, enhancing explainability and reducing redundancy. MMGNN stands as the first framework to explicitly align with real chemical processes, providing a more accurate and scientifically sound approach to modeling solute-solvent interactions. The infusion of explainability allows for the extraction of key subgraphs, which are pivotal for further research in solute-solvent dynamics. Extensive experimental validation confirms the efficacy and enhanced explainability of MMGNN.
Keywords:
Multidisciplinary Topics and Applications: MTA: Bioinformatics
Data Mining: DM: Applications
Machine Learning: ML: Applications