De novo main-chain modeling with MAINMAST in 2015/2016 EM Model Challenge

• Published in: Journal of structural biology Vol. 204; no. 2; pp. 351 - 359
• Main Authors: Terashi, Genki, Kihara, Daisuke
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 01.11.2018
• Subjects: confidence score; Cryo-EM; Cryoelectron Microscopy - methods; CryoEM Model Challenge; Electron microscopy; Main-chain trace; MAINMAST; Map interpretation; Mean shifting algorithm; Minimum spanning tree; Protein Conformation; Protein structure modeling; Proteins - chemistry; Rosetta; Software; Protein structure modeling; Main-chain trace; Mean shifting algorithm; confidence score; Cryo-EM; Map interpretation; Minimum spanning tree; Electron microscopy; CryoEM Model Challenge; MAINMAST; Rosetta
• ISSN: 1047-8477; 1095-8657; 1095-8657
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jsb.2018.07.013

Protein tertiary structure modeling is a critical step for the interpretation of three dimensional (3D) election microscopy density. Our group participated the 2015/2016 EM Model Challenge using the MAINMAST software for a de novo main chain modeling. The software generates local dense points using the mean shifting algorithm, and connects them into Cα models by calculating the minimum spanning tree and the longest path. Subsequently, full atom structure models are generated, which are subject to structural refinement. Here, we summarize the qualities of our submitted models and examine successful and unsuccessful models, including 3D models we did not submit to the Challenge. Our protocol using the MAINMAST software was sometimes able to build correct conformations with 3.4–5.1 Å RMSD. Unsuccessful models had failure of chain traces, however, their Cα positions and some local structures were quite correctly built. For evaluate the quality of the models, the MAINMAST software provides a confidence score for each Cα position from the consensus of top 100 scoring models.