- Chimera-users - RBVI Mailing Lists

CIF file format?
by Jason Sharpe 17 Jan '06

17 Jan '06

Hi, how do I open mmCIF (.cif) files in Chimera. This is the standard format of structure files supplied by the Cambridge Structural Database. thanks, Jason Sharpe University of Toronto

2 1

Saving a multiscale model in VRML
by R. Andrew Byrd 17 Jan '06

17 Jan '06

Greetings, Our publications group has a new device that they call a 3D printer. It can make solid models from a data file. They have made models from pdb files as ball-and-stick, and I saw one surface rendered model. They tell me that the input is in VRML. So, I am wondering how to make a VRML file from a session in Chimera where Multiscale Model tool is used to make a surface rendering of a complex model...several proteins. My model is not as complex as the virus examples for multiscale models, but the ability to make different resolution surfaces is a powerful aid. I would like to try and 'print' a 3D model of this surface rendered complex. Any help in out to output the VRML file for the printer?> Thanks Andy -- R. Andrew Byrd, Chief Structural Biophysics Laboratory National Cancer Institute V 301-846-1407 F 301-846-6231 -------------------------------------------------

3 2

Slow framerates (on a nice laptop)
by Charlie Moad 17 Jan '06

17 Jan '06

So in general I get really good performance with chimera, but for some reason I get really bad frame rates with more recent releases on windows with my laptop. It has a really nice card, GeForce 6200TC Go. It is even on a pcix16 bus. I am guessing that since it is a newer chipset, chimera is using shaders of some kind? The molecule looks visually smoother/better than when in linux. In any case, it seems something is getting enabled that really bogs it down, and I would like to be able to disable it. Sony Vaio FS500 Chimera 1.2184 Thanks, Charlie

2 1

distance not shown
by Mingfeng Yang 10 Jan '06

10 Jan '06

I am using Chimera build 1.2186 on Gentoo linux. Strangely, when the distance between two atoms is shown by the command "distance", the number is no longer displayed along the yellow dashed line. Did the developers removed this function? Or is it a bug? Regards, Mingfeng

2 1

yet another binary plugin question
by Charlie Moad 06 Jan '06

06 Jan '06

So I have been able to create a working binary plugin for windows/linux 1.2184 and osx.4 1.2186. My problem now is osx.3 1.2184. I can compile the plugin, but it crashes chimera with a TCLfree call to a null pointer. I used the chimera-1.2183-linux-headers.tar.gz download. The 1.2186-osx headers didn't work either. 1.2186 won't launch for 10.3 either. The python module is matplotlib. It uses Numeric, freetype, tcl/tk, and libpng. I provide the only missing dep, libpng, and compile against the rest which are provided in chimera. Any help on what approach I should be using? Thanks, Charlie

2 7

Help or feature request
by Mingfeng Yang 22 Dec '05

22 Dec '05

It's a very common problem to calculate the twist angle between to beta-strands or two alpha-helix. So I am wondering if Chimera can fit a group of atoms into a straight line, and give the angle of two fitted line. If chimera does do this, hopefully somebody can tell me how to do this. If not, it would be worthwhile to add this function in. Thank you very much! Happy holiday! Mingfeng

2 1

Save image from Chimera
by Juhan Kim/CIRES 22 Dec '05

22 Dec '05

Hello, Does anybody know how to save the image from the chimera? I'm using PC version of Chimera and whenever I'm trying to save the image using the menu file>save image, I always fail to save the image and only get the following "reply log" ----reply log----- Opening "file.pdb" Done opening "file.pdb" Unable to save image: (0, 'Error') Unable to save image: encoder error -2 when writing image file Unable to save image: encoder error -2 when writing image file Unable to save image: (0, 'Error') If anybody knows how to solve this please let me know. Thank you. Juhan UCB, Boulder

2 1

how to not include CONECT, RIBBON, HELIX, SHEET keywords in a pdb when saving from the pdb file dialog
by Sabuj Pattanayek 19 Dec '05

19 Dec '05

Hi, I was wondering how it might be possible to not include the CONECT, RIBBON, HELIX, or SHEET keywords in a pdb when saving from the save pdb file dialog? It can be done using "pdbrun nouser cat | grep -v HELIX | grep -v SHEET" ...etc but I can't save the pdb model relative to another model on the screen using that command. Thanks, Sabuj Pattanayek

2 1

Fit Models
by Bernard Heymann 14 Dec '05

14 Dec '05

I'm interested in using the "Fit Models in Maps" feature in Chimera. However, the version I installed (release 1.2184) under Mac OSX 10.4 does not have this in the Tools/Volume Data menu as described in the documentation. Can anyone tell me if this is intentional or can I get this feature? Bernard Heymann, Research Fellow Rm 1515, 50 South Dr., MSC 8025, NIAMS, NIH Bethesda MD 20892 Tel. 301-451-8241, Fax. 301-480-7629

2 1

new version available
by Eric Pettersen 14 Dec '05

14 Dec '05

Hi all, We've put out a new version (1.2180) which we believe fixes the problems that some people were having on XP platforms. We're hoping that those of you that were having problems will try out the new version at your earliest convenience and let us know how it works. Thanks! Eric Pettersen UCSF Computer Graphics Lab pett(a)cgl.ucsf.edu http://www.cgl.ucsf.edu

7 20

Concerns regarding secondary structure
by rquiroga＠immf.uncor.edu 12 Dec '05

12 Dec '05

Greetings, I have some concerns with Chimera's secondary structure detection/depiction. I am using Modeller to predict some 3D structures. I open my predicted structure in pdb file in Chimera along with the original structure I based my prediction on, and find that my predicted structure lacks two beta sheets that the model protein has, though the AA that compose the B-sheet are identical for the two proteins when I compare sequences with Matchmaker. I tried opening my predicted structure in MolMol and it detects the B-sheet, though I hugely prefer Chimera, so if you could solve this problem for me I would be very greatful. Thanks in advance, and regards Rodrigo Quiroga

2 2

Concerns regarding secondary structure
by rquiroga＠immf.uncor.edu 08 Dec '05

08 Dec '05

I have some concerns with Chimera's secondary structure detection/depiction. I am using Modeller to predict some 3D structures. I open my predicted structure in pdb file in Chimera along with the original structure I based my prediction on, and find that my predicted structure lacks two beta sheets that the model protein has, though the AA that compose the B-sheet are identical for the two proteins when I compare sequences with Matchmaker. I tried opening my predicted structure in MolMol and it detects the B-sheet, though I hugely prefer Chimera, so if you could solve this problem for me I would be very greatful. Thanks in advance, and regards Rodrigo Quiroga

1 0

Re: [Chimera-users] Moving selected atoms
by Thomas Goddard 08 Dec '05

08 Dec '05

I improved the mouse mode for moving selected atoms so if no atoms are selected it moves everything like the normal rotation and translation mouse modes -- all active models are moved. The new code is http://www.cgl.ucsf.edu/home/goddard/temp/moveselection.tar For installation instructions see my previous chimera-users message. http://www.cgl.ucsf.edu/pipermail/chimera-users/2005-December/000609.html The new behaviour makes it easy to move some atoms, then rotate the view, then move the atoms again. After moving the atoms you can clear the selection using ctrl-click on the background of the graphics window, then rotate everything to the new view point, then press the left arrow key (undo selection) to revert to the previous selection, and continue moving the atoms. Tom

1 0

Moving selected atoms
by Thomas Goddard 07 Dec '05

07 Dec '05

I wrote a Chimera extension that allows moving just selected atoms with the mouse. This is for modifying molecular structures. Here is the code http://www.cgl.ucsf.edu/home/goddard/temp/moveselection.tar that adds mouse modes to move selected atoms. The archive contains a directory called MoveSelection. Put it in your Chimera distribution in chimera/share or on Mac in Chimera.app/Contents/Resources/share Then when you start Chimera use menu entry Favorites / Preferences, and choose category "Mouse" from the preferences dialog. This shows the mouse modes table with the available modes along the top line. The last two are for shifting and rotating selected atoms. Reassign mouse buttons (say buttons 1 and 2) to these modes and you can move selected atoms. There is no undo. I'll have to make this easier to use and put it into Chimera. Tom

1 0

Re: [Chimera-users] chimera for linux ppc
by Geoffrey H Wathen 07 Dec '05

07 Dec '05

I've used YellowDog in the past, and I think it is a good dist. I wouldn't mind seeing a PPC Linux version of Chimera, either. Geoff. On Dec 7, 2005, at 10:50 AM, A. Zelter wrote: >> I think Conrad is saying that on the x86 architecture they can >> compile for RedHat and it will run on most distributions of x86 >> Linux. He's asking if there's a similar situation on PPC Linux, >> and which distribution of PPC Linux would provide the best >> prospects for such coverage. It seems to me that this is to >> minimize the occurrence of someone saying "I see you have the >> binaries for XYZ PPC Linux, but they don't run on my distribution >> of ABC PPC Linux. Could you please compile it for ABC PPC Linux?" > > Ahhh thanks. I knew I didn't get something. Well, I'm no expert on > that kind of thing, but Fedora Core 4 has a ppc version. I think > this is a little more modern than Red Hat Linux 7.1 - it runs > kernel 2.6.11. However, RedHat did make a PPC version of their 7.1 > distro (Red Hat Linux 7.1 for pSeries). I suppose that would be > equivalent. Another good bet might be yellowdog linux. The latest > version is 4.0.1, and it uses kernel 2.6.10. Yellowdog is based on > redhat but built specifically for Macs. This is probably what I > would try using. > Alex > >

3 3

Missing tools
by Luke Kontogiannis 07 Dec '05

07 Dec '05

I had installed the current production release chimera-1.2184-linux.exe. Just now I downloaded and installed the latest snapshot release chimera-1.2186-linux.exe and this version has the multiscale tool under Tools -> Higher-order structure Luke

2 1

chimera for linux ppc
by Alex Zelter 07 Dec '05

07 Dec '05

Hi, I was wondering if it would be possible for the developers to compile a binary version of chimer for use on linux ppc architecture seeing as it is not possible for a user to compile for themselves due to the proprietary solvent-accessible molecular surfacing library. I know this is not a common architecture, but some people do use it. Thanks in advance, Alex Zelter

3 2

Missing tools
by Luke Kontogiannis 07 Dec '05

07 Dec '05

Hi all, I installed chimera on windows and everything works fine. However, I installed it on ubuntu linux 5.10 yesterday and there are some tools that are missing such as multiscale. Is the windows version of chimera simply more capable or have I done something wrong? I simply ran the chimeral.exe file as root and it seemed to install fine. I even tried replacing the share directory on the linux box at work with the one from the windows version but that gave errors upon launching. Any ideas? Thanks Luke

1 0

Data reporting
by Reiner Villavicencio 04 Dec '05

04 Dec '05

Dear all, I have learned that 3D results/data from molecular dynamics or docking can be compressed to produce informative 2D diagrams for publication. Can anyone recommend such a program? Thank you and good day "Its hard to hold on to something that can never be yours in anyway you want... something that wasnt really yours to begin with... you just have to go on and accept the fact that while good things never last some dont even start...." Send instant messages to your online friends http://uk.messenger.yahoo.com

1 0

Add hydrogens to get -NH2 group
by Daniel Svozil 02 Dec '05

02 Dec '05

Hi all, if I use addH tool on the C-N, I would expect to get C-NH2, but I get C-NH3 instead. How should I proceed to get C-NH2 correctly? Thanks Dan -- Daniel Svozil, PhD Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry Center for Biomolecules and Complex Molecular Systems http://www.molecular.cz/~svozil Czech Republic phone: +420-220 410 312

2 1

Sequence alignment
by David G. Morgan 01 Dec '05

01 Dec '05

Hi, I'm learning to use the sequence alignment tools in chimera. I know that I can highlight sequences in the alignment window and select residues in the structure, but is it possible to do the opposite? In other words, I'd like to box or otherwise select some residue(s) in the structure and have that region highlighted or otherwise marked in the aligned sequence window. David Gene Morgan Advanced Microscopy & Proteomics Molecular & Cellular Biology University of California at Davis 530 752 2693 (lab) 530 752 3085 (FAX)

2 2

Feature Request: Expose rotation to python
by Charlie Moad 29 Nov '05

29 Nov '05

The repr of an xform shows the opengl rotation matrix. I want to get this efficiently in python, but I don't believe it is exposed. Could a getter please be added returning a 4x4 tuple, so a Numeric array can be trivial/efficiently made from it? If there is a current approach please let me know. Thanks, Charlie

4 7

estimaded standard deviation (sigma levels) for electron densities in volume viewer
by Pattanayek, Sabuj 28 Nov '05

28 Nov '05

Hi, Is it possible to specify the estimated standard deviation (sigma level) for electron densities in the volume viewer? Currently, I have to eyeball the distribution of the volume data and place the bar accordingly. Thanks, Sabuj Pattanayek

2 2

Question about connectivity
by Frederick Gimble 22 Nov '05

22 Nov '05

I have just begun using Chimera on my Mac, and find that it will be able to produce the graphics that I need for publication and display purposes. I recently opened a pdb file of a protein that we study bound to DNA and used the depiction, nucleotides tool to render the DNA backbone as ribbons with the bases shown as slabs. I noticed a discontinuity in one of the DNA strands, which may be caused by the severe distortion of the DNA. I think that this also happened with a previous program that I used called SPOCK that I used to draw the DNA strands as worms. In that case I could repair the break by changing the settings for the connectivity distances. How would I repair the break in Chimera? Thanks for your help. Sincerely, Fred Gimble Frederick S. Gimble, Ph. D. Associate Professor Department of Biochemistry BCHM 315 175 S. University St. Purdue University West Lafayette, IN 47906 Telephone: (765) 494-1653 Fax: (765) 494-7897 Email: fgimble(a)purdue.edu

3 2

Chimera failed abnormally
by Johan Börjesson 22 Nov '05

22 Nov '05

Hi I have downloaded the chimera-1.2184-win32.exe version of Chimera and installed it on my laptop running on an Celeron M 370 processor. The operation system is Windows XP. The problem is that I get an error message when I try to run the program. Chimera failed abnormally; the exit code was: 1. use the --debug command line option for the full error message. Hope that you can tell what the problem is and what I can do about it. Best regards Johan Börjesson Dept. of Biochemistry Lund University, Sweden

2 1