ChimeraX Command for Rotating a PDB Chain While Keeping One End Fixed
Hi, What ChimeraX command can I use to rotate a PDB chain from position A to position B while keeping one end of the chain fixed at its original position? Regards Anindito Sen. Ph.D Microscopy and Imaging Center Texas A&M University 301 Old Main Dr College Station, TX 77843-2257 Office: ILSB Room 1133 Tel. 979-458-9881 fax: 979-847-8933 http://microscopy.tamu.edu<http://microscopy.tamu.edu/>
Hi Anindito, What do you mean by move a chain from position A to position B? Do you have two sets of atom coordinates for the same atoms, and you want to rotate the first set of coordinates about one atom position so that the sum of the squared distance between the other corresponding atoms is minimized? ChimeraX has nothing that does that. The matchmaker and align commands minimize the sum of the squared distances between corresponding atoms in two structures but don't allow you to keep one atom fixed. Tom
On Oct 5, 2026, at 8:08 PM, Sen, Anindito via ChimeraX-users <chimerax-users@cgl.ucsf.edu> wrote:
Hi, What ChimeraX command can I use to rotate a PDB chain from position A to position B while keeping one end of the chain fixed at its original position?
Regards Anindito Sen. Ph.D Microscopy and Imaging Center Texas A&M University 301 Old Main Dr College Station, TX 77843-2257
Office: ILSB Room 1133 Tel. 979-458-9881 fax: 979-847-8933 http://microscopy.tamu.edu <http://microscopy.tamu.edu/>
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Hi Anindito, If you set your pivot point to a specific atom at the end of your chain (either with the right mouse click with the Right Mouse Pivot option set, or using the cofr command) it will become the new centre of rotation. Next, you can use the turn command to rotate the molecule by your desired angle about the desired axis. You could also do it manually if you have two models open by selecting the model you want to rotate in the model panel, then selecting "rotate model" in the right mouse menu , which will allow you to rotate your model when holding the right mouse button. Dave ________________________________ From: Sen, Anindito via ChimeraX-users <chimerax-users@cgl.ucsf.edu> Sent: Tuesday, October 6, 2026 4:08 AM To: chimerax-users@cgl.ucsf.edu <chimerax-users@cgl.ucsf.edu> Subject: [chimerax-users] ChimeraX Command for Rotating a PDB Chain While Keeping One End Fixed Warning: This email is from outside the UEA system. Do not click on links or attachments unless you expect them from the sender and know the content is safe. Hi, What ChimeraX command can I use to rotate a PDB chain from position A to position B while keeping one end of the chain fixed at its original position? Regards Anindito Sen. Ph.D Microscopy and Imaging Center Texas A&M University 301 Old Main Dr College Station, TX 77843-2257 Office: ILSB Room 1133 Tel. 979-458-9881 fax: 979-847-8933 http://microscopy.tamu.edu<http://microscopy.tamu.edu/>
participants (3)
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David Swainsbury (BIO - Staff) -
Sen, Anindito -
Tom Goddard