Automatically locating water molecules


A significant missing part of the model are ordered water molecules (some can be clearly seen in the electron density maps). This is to be expected at this resolution (2.25A). We would proceed with much more caution if the resolution of the data were significantly lower (2.5A or worse). Water molecules are automatically picked using the CNS task file water_pick_twin.inp:

      cns_solve < water_pick_twin.inp > water_pick_twin.out [20 minutes]

The automated picking located 65 water molecules (or ions) at a sigma level greater than 4 in a gradient map:

REMARK coordinates from water picking from twinned data
REMARK twinning operator= h,-h-k,-l  twinning fraction= 0.304
REMARK 65 waters picked at level greater than 4.0
REMARK in ( d(twin_lsq)/dFc ) map
REMARK peak selection criteria: hbond
REMARK peaks closer than 2.6 A or further than 4.0 A were deleted
REMARK but peaks 2.0 A from oxygen or nitrogen were kept
REMARK peaks further than 3.2 A from oxygen or nitrogen were deleted
REMARK map resolution: 500.0 - 2.25 A
REMARK starting twinned r= 0.1655 twinned free_r= 0.2035
REMARK final    twinned r= 0.1461 twinned free_r= 0.1871
REMARK sg= R3 a= 104.400 b= 104.400 c= 124.250 alpha= 90 beta= 90 gamma= 120

The B-factors and coordinates for the water molecules were refined in the water picking script. In some cases it might be useful to perform refinement of all B-factors and coordinates after the water picking, especially if a large number of waters were found. We will proceed to a final look at model statistics and maps (see next section).


Script to run this tutorial

Back to tutorials   Previous section   Next section