UCSF Chimera is a highly extensible program for interactive visualization and analysis of molecular structures and related data, including density maps, supramolecular assemblies, sequence alignments, docking results, trajectories, and conformational ensembles. High-quality images and animations can be generated. Chimera includes complete documentation and several tutorials, and can be downloaded free of charge for academic, government, non-profit, and personal use. Chimera is developed by the Resource for Biocomputing, Visualization, and Informatics and funded by the NIH National Center for Research Resources (grant P41-RR01081). (More about Chimera...)

Feature Highlight

Multiscale Models

The Multiscale Models extension allows Chimera to display large complexes such as virus capsids, ribosomes, and chromatin. It displays the quaternary structure of PDB models and allows subunits to be selected and shown in atomic detail. Matrices are read from PDB files that specify the biological unit. Crystallographic packing can also be shown.

(More features...)

---

Gallery Sample

Molecular Bracelet

Eukaryotic initiation factor (eIF) complex (from Protein Data Bank entry 1rf8) in which eIF4E, shown with blue ribbons, is completely encircled by eIF4G, shown with yellow ribbons and red molecular surface (image creation details). (More samples...)