Rapid model building of beta-sheets in electron-density maps

Map segmentation, automated model-building and their application to the Cryo-EM Model Challenge

A recently-developed method for identifying a compact, contiguous region representing the unique part of a density map was applied to 218 Cryo-EM maps with resolutions of 4.5 Å or better. The key elements of the segmentation procedure are (1) identification of all regions of density above a threshold and (2) choice of a unique set of these regions, taking symmetry into consideration, that maximize connectivity and compactness. This segmentation approach was then combined with tools for automated map sharpening and model-building to generate models for the 12 maps in the 2016 Cryo-EM Model Challenge in a fully automated manner. The resulting models have completeness from 24% to 82% and RMS distances from reference interpretations of 0.6 Å-2.1 Å.

Rapid chain tracing of polypeptide backbones in electron-density maps

A method for rapid chain tracing of polypeptide backbones at moderate resolution is presented.

A method for the rapid tracing of polypeptide backbones has been developed. The method creates an approximate chain tracing that is useful for visual evaluation of whether a structure has been solved and for use in scoring the quality of electron-density maps. The essence of the method is to (i) sample candidate C^α positions at spacings of approximately 0.6 Å along ridgelines of high electron density, (ii) list all possible nonapeptides that satisfy simple geometric and density criteria using these candidate C^α positions, (iii) score the nonapeptides and choose the highest scoring ones, and (iv) find the longest chains that can be made by connecting nonamers. An indexing and storage scheme that allows a single calculation of most distances and density values is used to speed up the process. The method was applied to 42 density-modified electron-density maps at resolutions from 1.5 to 3.8 Å. A total of 21 428 residues in these maps were traced in 24 CPU min with an overall r.m.s.d. of 1.61 Å for C^α atoms compared with the known refined structures. The method appears to be suitable for rapid evaluation of electron-density map quality.