Section 1: Viewing a 3D structure

The PDB data for Bovine Ribonuclease A (5RSA) is provided. Click here to open it and you should be presented with a view like this:

This isn't a static image and the molecule can be moved around by clicking in the window and dragging the mouse while holding the left mouse button down.

You can also zoom the structure in and out by clicking in the window and holding both the left mouse button and Shift key on your keyboard down. Moving the mouse up will make the structure appear smaller as your point of view moves away. Moving the mouse down will make the structure grow as your point of view moves towards it. Moving the mouse left or right will rotate the structure in the appropriate direction.

Finally, you can pan the structure by holding the Shift key down and double clicking in the window and holding the mouse button down. Now as you move the mouse around the structure will pan in the window.

Try all of these and get used to moving the structure around. One thing you might notice is that when you are rotating the structure, it looks more three-dimensional than when it is static. This is a well known visual effect and is commonly used to help show depth on a 2D display. Gently rocking the structure back and forth will allow you to more easily see which parts are at the back and which at the front.

Section 2: Simplifying the view

Section 3: Selecting parts of the structure

Section 4: Showing useful information