November 2024 - ChimeraX-users - RBVI Mailing Lists

initial dark mode support
by Greg Couch 16 Dec '24

16 Dec '24

FYI, the ChimeraX daily build now has dark mode support. So if you set your desktop to use dark mode, ChimeraX should follow. It's a work in progress, and it depends on developer's making their code dark mode aware (eg., icons may need to be modified), but if you notice any black text on a dark background, please let me know. -- Greg

2 3

ChimeraX 1.8 release
by Elaine Meng 10 Dec '24

10 Dec '24

UCSF ChimeraX version 1.8 has been released! ChimeraX includes user documentation and is free for noncommercial use. Download for Windows, Linux, and MacOS from: https://www.rbvi.ucsf.edu/chimerax/download.html Updates since version 1.7 (Dec 2023) include: - show worm depictions of attribute values (B-factor, conservation, etc.) using Render by Attribute tool or "cartoon byattribute" command - show attribute values with atomic radii using Render by Attribute or "size byattribute" - Select by Attribute graphical interface - Join Models generalized to any covalent bond (not just peptide) - show multiple alternate locations simultaneously with "altlocs show" - "pbond" command to create arbitrary pseudobonds - "measure contactarea" to report the area of one surface within a cutoff distance of another - Segmentations tool for interactive manual segmentation in 2D slice views, 3D (desktop), or 3D (VR) can be applied to any volume data, not just medical images; several fixes and ergonomic improvements including icons to assign/deassign mouse and VR hand-controller modes with a single click - set up and analyze batch AlphaFold predictions to search for protein-protein interactions (commands for advanced users who can run ColabFold directly on Linux) support for: - reading predicted aligned error (PAE) data from AlphaFold 3 - reading docking results from MOE - fetching atomic structures and maps from PDB-REDO - fetching/display of PDB NMR-STAR restraints For details, please see the ChimeraX change log: https://www.rbvi.ucsf.edu/trac/ChimeraX/wiki/ChangeLog On behalf of the team, Elaine ----- Elaine C. Meng, Ph.D. UCSF Chimera(X) team Resource for Biocomputing, Visualization, and Informatics Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry University of California, San Francisco

2 13

Installing ChimeraX in a Apptainer container
by tluchko 08 Dec '24

08 Dec '24

Hello, I am trying to install ChimeraX in an apptainer (singularity) container. I am able to load molecules but running into two issues. - I get a lot of python tracebacks (see below). I have also installed ChimeraX directly on the same machine from the RPM and do not see these error messages. - Rendering is very slow, so I don't think it is using the graphics card. The direct installation is similarly slow, but I have installed VMD on the same system and I can tell that it is using the graphics card, both from the log and the speed. Please let me know if you have any suggestions to address either of these issues. This is the command that I am using to launch ChimeraX apptainer exec --bind /tmp/.X11-unix,/storage/storage1 --env DISPLAY=$DISPLAY --nv chimerax-rocky9.sif chimerax This is the definition file for the container. BootStrap: docker From: rockylinux/rockylinux:9.4 %labels Maintainer Tyler Luchko Version 1.0 %help This is a Rocky Linux 9 container for ChimeraX 1.8 %setup # These are only required if running on the HPC. #mkdir -p ${APPTAINER_ROOTFS}/tmp mkdir -p ${APPTAINER_ROOTFS}/scratch %post echo "Installing packages into the Rocky Linux 9 container" dnf -y install yum-utils dnf -y config-manager --set-enabled crb dnf -y install epel-release dnf -y install mesa-dri-drivers glx-utils dnf -y install /tmp/ucsf-chimerax-1.8-1.el9.x86_64.rpm dnf clean all %environment export PATH=/usr/bin:/usr/sbin:/bin:/sbin export SHELL=/bin/bash export LANG=en_US.UTF-8 Sample error output is below. Thank you, Tyler NOTE: available bundle cache has not been initialized yet NOTE: Traceback (most recent call last): File "/usr/libexec/UCSF-ChimeraX/lib/python3.11/site- packages/chimerax/core/toolshed/info.py", line 571, in start_tool ti = api._api_caller.start_tool(api, session, self, tool_info) ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ File "/usr/libexec/UCSF-ChimeraX/lib/python3.11/site- packages/chimerax/core/toolshed/__init__.py", line 1286, in start_tool return cls._get_func(api, "start_tool")(session, ti.name) ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ File "/usr/libexec/UCSF-ChimeraX/lib/python3.11/site- packages/chimerax/log/__init__.py", line 50, in start_tool return cmd.get_singleton(session, create=True) ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ File "/usr/libexec/UCSF-ChimeraX/lib/python3.11/site- packages/chimerax/log/cmd.py", line 30, in get_singleton return tools.get_singleton(session, Log, 'Log', create=create) ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ File "/usr/libexec/UCSF-ChimeraX/lib/python3.11/site- packages/chimerax/core/tools.py", line 216, in get_singleton tinst = tool_class(session, tool_name, **kw) ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ File "/usr/libexec/UCSF-ChimeraX/lib/python3.11/site- packages/chimerax/log/tool.py", line 161, in __init__ from chimerax.ui.widgets import ChimeraXHtmlView ImportError: cannot import name 'ChimeraXHtmlView' from 'chimerax.ui.widgets' (/usr/libexec/UCSF-ChimeraX/lib/python3.11/site- packages/chimerax/ui/widgets/__init__.py) During handling of the above exception, another exception occurred: Traceback (most recent call last): File "/usr/libexec/UCSF-ChimeraX/lib/python3.11/site- packages/chimerax/core/tools.py", line 418, in start_tools bi.start_tool(session, tool_name) File "/usr/libexec/UCSF-ChimeraX/lib/python3.11/site- packages/chimerax/core/toolshed/info.py", line 578, in start_tool raise ToolshedError( chimerax.core.toolshed.ToolshedError: start_tool() failed for tool Log in bundle ChimeraX-Log: cannot import name 'ChimeraXHtmlView' from 'chimerax.ui.widgets' (/usr/libexec/UCSF-ChimeraX/lib/python3.11/site- packages/chimerax/ui/widgets/__init__.py) BUG: Tool "Log" failed to start: chimerax.core.toolshed.ToolshedError: start_tool() failed for tool Log in bundle ChimeraX-Log: cannot import name 'ChimeraXHtmlView' from 'chimerax.ui.widgets' (/usr/libexec/UCSF-ChimeraX/lib/python3.11/site- packages/chimerax/ui/widgets/__init__.py) File "/usr/libexec/UCSF-ChimeraX/lib/python3.11/site- packages/chimerax/core/toolshed/info.py", line 578, in start_tool raise ToolshedError( _See log for complete Python traceback._ NOTE: UCSF ChimeraX version: 1.8 (2024-06-10) NOTE: © 2016-2024 Regents of the University of California. All rights reserved. NOTE: [How to cite UCSF ChimeraX](cxcmd:help help:credits.html) NOTE: Traceback (most recent call last): File "/usr/libexec/UCSF-ChimeraX/lib/python3.11/site- packages/chimerax/core/triggerset.py", line 149, in invoke return self._func(self._name, data) ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ File "/usr/libexec/UCSF-ChimeraX/lib/python3.11/site- packages/chimerax/bug_reporter/crash_report.py", line 138, in _delayed_register_log_recorder _register_log_recorder(session) File "/usr/libexec/UCSF-ChimeraX/lib/python3.11/site- packages/chimerax/bug_reporter/crash_report.py", line 172, in _register_log_recorder log.record_to_file(log_file) File "/usr/libexec/UCSF-ChimeraX/lib/python3.11/site- packages/chimerax/log/tool.py", line 410, in record_to_file self._log_to_file(self.page_source) ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ AttributeError: 'Log' object has no attribute 'page_source' BUG: Error processing trigger "new frame": AttributeError: 'Log' object has no attribute 'page_source' File "/usr/libexec/UCSF-ChimeraX/lib/python3.11/site- packages/chimerax/log/tool.py", line 410, in record_to_file self._log_to_file(self.page_source) ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ _See log for complete Python traceback._ Sent with [Proton Mail](https://proton.me/mail/home) secure email.

3 3

Stepping through model in secondary structure element steps (ISOLDE)
by Vorländer,Matthias Kopano 28 Nov '24

28 Nov '24

Dear all, I seem to remember that it was possible to step through a model in Isolde one secondary structure element at a time, however I don't find that option anymore. Is this possible at all? I prefer this to the isolde step option that goes through the model one residue at a time. Many thanks in advance, Matthias Sent from Outlook for Android<https://aka.ms/AAb9ysg> --- Matthias Kopano Vorländer Postdoc matthias.vorlaender(a)imp.ac.at<mailto:matthias.vorlaender@imp.ac.at> Plaschka Lab IMP - Research Institute of Molecular Pathology - imp.ac.at<https://imp.ac.at/> Part of Vienna BioCenter. www.viennabiocenter.org<https://www.viennabiocenter.org>

3 3

Re: IMOD Segmentation to ChimeraX (.mod to .cmm Conversion)
by Tom Goddard 27 Nov '24

27 Nov '24

Glad you got it to work. Tom > On Nov 27, 2024, at 3:30 PM, LENKA MILOJEVIC <lenka11(a)g.ucla.edu> wrote: > > Dear Dr. Goddard, > > Thank you so much! That worked! I thought I’d have to produce a .cmm file or mask the map using the volume tool and the .mod file as a surface. > > I really appreciate your swift responses! This was incredibly helpful. > > Have a great rest of your day! > > Sincerely, > Lenka > > On Wed, 27 Nov 2024 at 15:26, Tom Goddard <goddard(a)sonic.net <mailto:goddard@sonic.net>> wrote: >> Hi Lenka, >> >> Seems like you got what you wanted "I was wondering if there's any way that I could convert the .mod file into a .cmm file because my goal is to segment a map in ChimeraX using the Color Zone tool, according to the contours from IMOD." Your image shows the traced curves as connected markers (fake atoms connected by bonds). To color the nearby density you would then use the Color Zone tool, menu Tools / Volume Data / Color Zone and it has a Split Map button that would let you make a new map that includes just the colored part near your curves. The equivalent ChimeraX command is "color zone" >> >> https://www.cgl.ucsf.edu/chimerax/docs/user/commands/color.html#zone >> >> If the command syntax is confusing just use the graphical Color Zone tool and it will log the equivalent command to the Log panel and you will have a better idea of how to type a command if you want to use some of the fancier options (like bondPointSpacing) that the graphical tool does not offer. >> >> Tom >> >> >>> On Nov 27, 2024, at 2:46 PM, LENKA MILOJEVIC via ChimeraX-users <chimerax-users(a)cgl.ucsf.edu <mailto:chimerax-users@cgl.ucsf.edu>> wrote: >>> >>> In the event that I want to mask map #3 using the .mod file in #1 , which command exactly do I run? I'm attaching a screenshot showing my current session. >>> <image.png> >>> >>> >>> On Wed, Nov 27, 2024 at 2:42 PM LENKA MILOJEVIC <lenka11(a)g.ucla.edu <mailto:lenka11@g.ucla.edu>> wrote: >>>> Hi Elaine, >>>> >>>> If I don't input contours true, nothing shows up on my screen. It just states it read it. >>>> open <> C:/Users/lenkamilojevic/Box/HSV-1/Front/HSV1_9_overcoils.mod >>>> Read IMOD model C:/Users/lenkamilojevic/Box/HSV-1/Front/HSV1_9_overcoils.mod, pixel size 0.568 >>>> >>>> Sorry for the trouble. I really appreciate your help. >>>> >>>> Best, >>>> Lenka >>>> >>>> On Wed, Nov 27, 2024 at 2:09 PM Elaine Meng <meng(a)cgl.ucsf.edu <mailto:meng@cgl.ucsf.edu>> wrote: >>>>> Hi Lenka, >>>>> Contours true is to make it into markers and links (fake atoms and bonds) instead of a surface. You do not need markers and links for masking, you only need a surface model (meshes true contours false). >>>>> >>>>> Just open the file directly without any options and by default it should make a surface model that you can use in "volume mask" - I thought "meshes true" would still make the surface but maybe it only does that when contours is false. >>>>> >>>>> I'm sorry I mentioned the contours option since it was confusing... I only did so because at first I thought you wanted markers. >>>>> >>>>> I hope this helps, >>>>> Elaine >>>>> ----- >>>>> Elaine C. Meng, Ph.D. >>>>> UCSF Chimera(X) team >>>>> Resource for Biocomputing, Visualization, and Informatics >>>>> Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry >>>>> University of California, San Francisco >>>>> >>>>> > On Nov 27, 2024, at 1:34 PM, LENKA MILOJEVIC via ChimeraX-users <chimerax-users(a)cgl.ucsf.edu <mailto:chimerax-users@cgl.ucsf.edu>> wrote: >>>>> > >>>>> > Dear Dr. Meng, >>>>> > >>>>> > Thank you! I've now managed to open the segmentation with open C:Path format imod meshes true contours true. But If I run volume mask it just outputs: >>>>> > volume mask #3 surfaces #1 fullMap true >>>>> > No surfaces specified >>>>> > volume mask #3 #1 extend 3 >>>>> > Missing required "surfaces" argument >>>>> > volume mask #3 surfaces #1 >>>>> > No surfaces specified >>>>> > >>>>> > Any advice? Is the contour not actually a surface yet? Or am I writing the command wrong. >>>>> > >>>>> > Thank you so so much! >>>>> > >>>>> > Best, >>>>> > Lenka >>>>> > >>>>> > On Wed, Nov 27, 2024 at 1:45 PM Elaine Meng <meng(a)cgl.ucsf.edu <mailto:meng@cgl.ucsf.edu>> wrote: >>>>> > Hi Lenka, >>>>> > The link that you sent is to the Chimera documentation (not ChimeraX): >>>>> > <https://www.rbvi.ucsf.edu/chimera/docs/UsersGuide/filetypes.html#object> >>>>> > >>>>> > Since they are different programs, there are differences... but not in this case! ChimeraX can also open these IMOD segmentations: >>>>> > <https://rbvi.ucsf.edu/chimerax/docs/user/commands/open.html#segmentation> >>>>> > <https://rbvi.ucsf.edu/chimerax/docs/user/formats/imod.html> >>>>> > >>>>> > These segmentation models are surfaces, not the atoms or pseudoatoms (markers) that you would need to define a zone with Color Zone. Although the second link above explains that you can make the IMOD surface mesh into markers/links by opening the file with the "open" command option "contours false," that is unlikely to make them suitable for defining zones. Mainly it is used to improve display. >>>>> > >>>>> > Instead you can use "volume mask" to mask parts of your map with the IMOD segmentation surfaces. >>>>> > <https://rbvi.ucsf.edu/chimerax/docs/user/commands/volume.html#mask> >>>>> > >>>>> > I hope this helps, >>>>> > Elaine >>>>> > ----- >>>>> > Elaine C. Meng, Ph.D. >>>>> > UCSF Chimera(X) team >>>>> > Resource for Biocomputing, Visualization, and Informatics >>>>> > Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry >>>>> > University of California, San Francisco >>>>> > >>>>> > > On Nov 27, 2024, at 11:56 AM, LENKA MILOJEVIC via ChimeraX-users <chimerax-users(a)cgl.ucsf.edu <mailto:chimerax-users@cgl.ucsf.edu>> wrote: >>>>> > > >>>>> > > Dear Sir or Madam, >>>>> > > >>>>> > > While the 'Input File Types' page lists .mod and .imod files under 3D objects ChimeraX can open, when I try to open a .mod file (e.g., run command open C:/*PathToFile* or through the GUI), the file doesn't show up even though the log output states 'Read IMOD model C:/*PathToFile*, pixel size X'. >>>>> > > >>>>> > > I was wondering if there's any way that I could convert the .mod file into a .cmm file because my goal is to segment a map in ChimeraX using the Color Zone tool, according to the contours from IMOD. >>>>> > > >>>>> > > I appreciate your time and assistance! >>>>> > > >>>>> > > Sincerely, >>>>> > > Lenka >>>>> > >>>>> > _______________________________________________ >>>>> > ChimeraX-users mailing list -- chimerax-users(a)cgl.ucsf.edu <mailto:chimerax-users@cgl.ucsf.edu> >>>>> > To unsubscribe send an email to chimerax-users-leave(a)cgl.ucsf.edu <mailto:chimerax-users-leave@cgl.ucsf.edu> >>>>> > Archives: https://mail.cgl.ucsf.edu/mailman/archives/list/chimerax-users@cgl.ucsf.edu/ >>>>> >>> _______________________________________________ >>> ChimeraX-users mailing list -- chimerax-users(a)cgl.ucsf.edu <mailto:chimerax-users@cgl.ucsf.edu> >>> To unsubscribe send an email to chimerax-users-leave(a)cgl.ucsf.edu <mailto:chimerax-users-leave@cgl.ucsf.edu> >>> Archives: https://mail.cgl.ucsf.edu/mailman/archives/list/chimerax-users@cgl.ucsf.edu/ >>

1 0

IMOD Segmentation to ChimeraX (.mod to .cmm Conversion)
by LENKA MILOJEVIC 27 Nov '24

27 Nov '24

Dear Sir or Madam, While the 'Input File Types' page <https://www.rbvi.ucsf.edu/chimera/docs/UsersGuide/filetypes.html> lists .mod and .imod files under 3D objects ChimeraX can open, when I try to open a .mod file (e.g., run command open C:/*PathToFile* or through the GUI), the file doesn't show up even though the log output states 'Read IMOD model C:/*PathToFile*, pixel size X'. I was wondering if there's any way that I could convert the .mod file into a .cmm file because my goal is to segment a map in ChimeraX using the Color Zone tool, according to the contours from IMOD. I appreciate your time and assistance! Sincerely, Lenka Lenka Milojević Biophysics PhD Candidate Z. Hong Zhou Lab University of California, Los Angeles

3 10

Closest distance list between residues/atoms; And selecting first/last residue in a chain
by pm676＠cam.ac.uk 27 Nov '24

27 Nov '24

Hi Is there a way by command line to generate a list of residue to residue (or atom to atom) distances ranked by closest to furthest, for say, all residues within 4A of each other at an interface between two protein chains? Can it also state the type of interaction, e.g. salt bridge, H-bond, vdW? Also, completely separately, is there a way by command line to select the first and last residue in a chain (without having to find their number)? No worries if not. Thanks so much! Cheers, Paul

4 14

Visualization of methyls rotations
by Enrico Martinez 27 Nov '24

27 Nov '24

Dear ChimeraX users! In visualizing the MD trajectory, I noticed a small issue with the depiction of the rapid rotations of the ligand's methyl groups. Specifically, the hydrogens appear to periodically collapse into a singularity before returning to their expected positions. Could this be addressed through additional post-processing of the trajectory data? Many thanks in advance Enrico

2 2

Question about using AF3-competitor outputs
by David S. Fay 26 Nov '24

26 Nov '24

Hi, Apologies if this already came up and I missed it. I just ran a few dimer models on the Chai Discovery website (https://lab.chaidiscovery.com/dashboard) and it seems to work quite well. However, when I tried to upload the relevant json file using the Structure Prediction - AlphaFold Error Plot pulldown menu, ChimeraX failed to recognize the file. I tried a few other files and something similar happened. Do you know of a workaround or is this something that is likely to get patched soon? I should mention that Chai may be putting the relevant PAE information into a “npy" file, (e.g., pae.model_idx_0.rank_1.npy) based on the size of that file, and I haven’t yet tried to convert npy to a json or know if that’s even possible. I also wonder if Boltz-1, another AF3 competitor, will have different outputs as well. They don’t seem to have a GUI yet and perhaps they won’t, so I haven’t been able tyo test this yet. I assume this has all been topic of discussions at ChimeraX though… Thanks in advance for your help! David David S. Fay Ph.D. Professor, Department of Molecular Biology Associate Director, National Institutes of Health Wyoming INBRE University of Wyoming email: davidfay(a)uwyo.edu

3 4

How to remove specific H bonds
by Sen, Anindito 26 Nov '24

26 Nov '24

Dear ChimeraX group, How do I remove certain 'H' bonds from an atomic model, leaving the important 'H' bonds Regards Stay safe & Regards Anindito Sen. Ph.D

2 1