Jul 1 2004
Contents
 
Introduction
Reference Guide
 ICM command line options
 Command line editing
 Graphics controls
 Editing pairwise sequence-structure alignments
 Constants
 Subsets and index expressions
 Molecule intro
 Selections
 Arithmetics
 Flow control
 ICM molecular objects
 Energy and Penalty Terms
 Integer shell parameters.
 Real shell variables
 Logical variables
 String variables
 Preferences
  atomLabelStyle
  alignMethod
  atomSingleStyle
  dcMethod
  electroMethod
  errorAction
  ffMethod
  gcMethod
  highEnergyAction
  interruptAction
  mfMethod
  minimizeMethod
  pdbDirStyle
  rejectAction
  resLabelStyle
  ribbonColorStyle
  ribbonStyle
  sequenceColorScheme
  shineStyle
  surfaceMethod
  tzMethod
  varLabelStyle
  visitsAction
  vwMethod
  webEntrezOption
  wireStyle
  xrMethod
 Tables (structures)
 Other shell variables
 Commands
 Functions
 Macros
 Files
User's guide
References
Glossary
 
Index
Prev
2.17 Preferences
Next

[ atomLabelStyle | alignMethod | atomSingleStyle | dcMethod | electroMethod | errorAction | ffMethod | gcMethod | highEnergyAction | interruptAction | mfMethod | minimizeMethod | pdbDirStyle | rejectAction | resLabelStyle | ribbonColorStyle | ribbonStyle | sequenceColorScheme | shineStyle | surfaceMethod | tzMethod | varLabelStyle | visitsAction | vwMethod | webEntrezOption | wireStyle | xrMethod ]

Preferences are multiple choices. You can show and list them. You can change a preference by assigning it to:
  • the item number
  • the item name
  • "nextItem" string
  • 0 (the same as "nextItem")

Examples:
 
 resLabelStyle = 3              # 3-rd choice 
 resLabelStyle = "Ala 5"        # assign by string  
 resLabelStyle = "nextItem"     # go to the next item in the list  


2.17.1 atomLabelStyle

[Top]
style of atom labels invoked by clicking on an atom or the display atom label as_ command. You may display name, electric charge (q) and/or mmff atom type. Options are the following:
  1. "cb1" <== default
  2. "cb1 q" (atomic charge)
  3. "cb1:FC" (formal charge and chirality)
  4. "cb1 all" (different atomic properties)
  5. "cb1 mmff q"
  6. "C" (chemical atom name for non-H and non-C atoms, formal charge and chirality)
  7. "[C]" (chem. name, formal charge and chirality on a rectangle )
The last two choices use periodic table convention to label atoms, and the label is positioned into the center of atom. In the latter case ("[C]") a rectangle of the background color is used to highlight the label. Be careful since in the latter case the selection mark (green cross) is hidden.
Examples:
 
 build string "se his" 
 atomLabelStyle = "[C]" 
 wireStyle = "chemistry" 
 lineWidth = 3. 
 display atom label wire black # press Ctrl-A 
 color background white 
 write postscript "tm"         # save the results 
# 
 atomLabelStyle = "C" 
 display xstick  
 set type mmff                 # press Ctrl-A again 


2.17.2 alignMethod

[Top]
alignment method used in the Alignand Score functions and find database command (as described in Batalov and Abagyan, 1999).
  1. "ZEGA"
  2. "H-align" <- the best choice
  3. "frame-H-align" # allows to align DNA sequence against protein sequence or protein sequence database
See also:

2.17.3 atomSingleStyle

[Top]
display style of isolated atoms in the wire mode.
  1. "tetrahedron"
  2. "cross"
  3. "dot"
The size of the first two representation is controlled by the GRAPHICS.ballRadius parameter and the line width (especially important for the "dot" style) is controlled by the lineWidth parameter.

2.17.4 dcMethod

[Top]
defines the algorithm for the density correlation calculation which is the correlation between the static density distribution and a virtual map generated from atomic positions on the fly.
  1. "exact" <- default
  2. "unnormalized"
Explanation:
  1. The "exact" density correlation penalty function uses the Pearson's correlation coefficient. The correlation coefficient is then shifted by +1 so that the function ranges from 0. to 2. rather than from 1. to -1. DC = 1 - Sum( Di - < D > )( Ai - < A > )/( N * Rmsd( D )*Rmsd( A )) The term has analytical derivatives with respect to the internal coordinates and can be efficiently locally minimized. This term requires additional memory allocation equal to the current map size and is two times slower than the unnormalized term.
  2. The "unnormalized" density correlation. Formula: DC = 1 - Sum( Di - < D > )( Ai - < A > )/ N where Di is a map value in point i , and Ai represents the density generated dynamically from atomic positions. The differences from the "exact" term are the following:
    • scaling is arbitrary in contrast to "exact" term. Therefore you have to estimate a reasonable dcWeight value if "dc" is optimized along with the other energy or penalty terms.
    • The "unnormalized" term does not require additional memory and is two times faster than the "exact" term. The term has analytical derivatives with respect to the internal coordinates and can be efficiently locally minimized.


2.17.5 electroMethod

[Top]
defines method used for the electrostatic energy evaluation. Four options are available:
  1. "Coulomb"
  2. "distance dependent" <- default
  3. "MIMEL"
  4. "boundary element"
The meaning:
  1. The Coulomb electrostatics is defined as U = q1 *q2 /D*r12 with D = dielConst .
  2. In the distance-dependent dielectric model D in the above formula is set to dielConst*r, where r is an interatomic distance.
  3. The "MIMEL" electrostatics allows to evaluate the free energy of a molecule in water environment by the Modified IMage ELectrostatics approximation at every iteration of the Monte Carlo, or search procedure. This energy will only be calculated for a static structure or at the end of local minimization ( so called "double energy scheme", see Abagyan and Totrov, 1994 section (e) on p.992, or Abagyan, Totrov and Kuznetsov, 1994 p. 10, for reference). ). The MIMEL energy consists of the Coulomb energy, which is calculated for all the atom pairs at the current dielConst value, and the electrostatic solvation energy which is a sum of "selfEnergy" and "crossEnergy" and is returned in the r_out real variable upon completion of the calculation in the show energy command. A more accurate evaluation of the electrostatic solvation energy can be obtained with the boundary element method.
  4. The boundary element method provides an accurate solution of the Poisson equation. The dielectric boundary is defined by the accurate analytical molecular surface (skin) and all the local charges stay exactly where they are. The boundary element method does not rely on any 3D grid and is free from dependence on the grid size. The ICM implementation of the boundary element method is fast and accurate. During the local minimization the derivatives with respect to the internal coordinates are not calculated (similar to the MIMEL method). The distance dependent dielectric model is used during minimization instead. At the end of the local minimization the electrostatic energy is replaced by the more rigorous boundary element energy.


2.17.6 errorAction

[Top]
action taken after an error has occurred.
  1. = "none" # error flag is set (see the Error() function)
  2. = "break" <- default # exit from loops and macros
  3. = "exit" # exit from a script into shell
  4. = "quit" # quit ICM: useful for CGIs

Specific error messages can be suppressed with the s_skipMessages ( e.g. s_skipMessages = "[696][2073]" )
See also: s_errorFormat, interruptAction

2.17.7 ffMethod

[Top]
force field used in the show energy, minimize, and montecarlo commands.
  1. = "ecepp" <- default
  2. = "mmff"
  3. = "icmff" a new experimental force field obtained by reparametrization of the mmff force field into the internal coordinate space and derivation of the parameters specific for a particular covalent geometry.

<> Note that minimize cartesian temporarily enforces ffMethod = "mmff", since the ecepp force field is not applicable to the carterian minimization.
To use the force fields you need to do the following:
  • "ecepp"
    • read library (if it is not included in your _startup.icm file)
    • modify terms with the set terms command.
    • use show energy , minimize, or montecarlo.
  • "mmff" in cartesian space (free covalent geometry). The command requires at least the "vw,af,bb,bs" terms and needs correct atom types and charges.
    • read library mmff
    • assign atom types: set type mmff a_ . This operation requires correct
  • chemical structure (when you build the molecule, make sure it is complete),
  • bond types (check graphically with wireMethod=2, and change with the set bond type command), and
  • formal charges (check graphically with the atomLabelStyle=3, and assign with the set charge formal .. command).
    • assign charges: set charge mmff a_
    • modify terms with the set terms command. The full set is: set terms "vw,el,to,af,bb,bs"
    • use show energy , minimize, or montecarlo.
  • "mmff" in the internal coordinate space according to the current fixation. The use of the mmff force field is not recommended.
  • "icmff". This new force field is designed to be used with the fixed covalent geometry and is faster than both mmff-cartesian and "ecepp". The icmff force field is still experimental and should be used with caution. The vacuum part of icmff requires only three terms: "vw,to,el". The solvation terms "sf,en" can be added. Icmff calculates parameters on the fly for a particular geometry. To use this force field use the following procedures:
  • assign mmff types and charges, and load the mmff libraries (see above)
  • to generate the starting conformation, minimize your molecule with ffMethod = 2 and minimize cartesian "14,to,bb,bs,af" .
  • set ffMethod to 3 and set terms ""vw,to,el,sf,en" only .
  • use show energy or montecarlo


2.17.8 gcMethod

[Top]
method defining how the m_gc map is used in the "gc" grid energy calculation. The "gc" method allows to calculate interactions of a molecule with grid energy field representing another molecule ( the first method ), or treat the m_gc map as the electron density map.
  1. "vw" <- default choice: current object interacts with the van der Waals field. Positive values repel, negative attract; Contribution from one non-hydrogen atom is Eatom = 1.*Egc
  2. "density" : treats the m_gc map as positive electron density and pulls the object into it. The contributions of atoms are proportional to atomic number (the number of electrons), hydrogens are ignored: Eatom = -AtomicNumber*Egc
  3. "field" : uses user-defined atomic field value, which can be set by the set field command and extracted with the Field (as_ ) command, as the relative weight of each atom. Anticipates that van der Waals type of the map (attractive negative values, repulsive positive) as in the first method. Eatom = Field(atom)*Egc

2.17.9 highEnergyAction

[Top]
action taken upon achievement of the maximal allowed number of montecarlo steps resulting in no modification of a stack mnhighEnergy , (it means that conformations are dissimilar to those in the stack and have higher energy). Four actions can be taken:
  1. " heat"
  2. " stackjump" <- default
  3. " random"
  4. " exit"


2.17.10 interruptAction

[Top]
action taken upon ICM-interrupt (^\ Control backslash).
  1. = "break loop"
  2. = "break all loops" <- default
  3. = "exit macro"
  4. = "exit to the main macro"
  5. = "exit all macros"


2.17.11 mfMethod

[Top]
atom pair selection algorithm used when "mf" energy term is calculated by the show energy, montecarlo, or minimize commands.
Allowed values:
  • "intermolecular" (or 1 ) <- default
  • "all" (or 2)
(e.g. mfMethod = 2 )
In contrast to the "vw" term, only intermolecular atom pairs are considered by default, since usually intramolecular interactions are calculated with the standard energy terms.
In the "all" mode the atom pairs are taken from the van der Waals interaction lists calculated dynamically in the show energy, montecarlo, or minimize commands. All atom pairs except atoms separated by 1 or 2 bonds (so called 1-2 and 1-3 interactions) and within the vwCutoff distance are taken into account.
See also: term "mf", pmf-file, mfWeight .

2.17.12 minimizeMethod

[Top]
algorithm used for local energy minimization which takes place in the minimize command, and is a part of one step of a multistep procedure such as montecarlo, ssearch, and convert .
Allowed values:
  1. "conjugate"
  2. "newton"
  3. "auto" <- default

"conjugate" means conjugate gradient minimization. Uses analytical first derivatives and takes 6* n_free_variables memory.
"newton" - quasi-Newton method. It uses analytical first derivatives and takes n_free_variables*n_free_variables memory. We recommend this method for energy minimization of small molecules.
"auto" <- default; use the more efficient quasi-Newton if the number of free variables (Nof(v_//*) is less than 100 (additional memory requirement of about 2 MB) and switch to the conjugate gradient method if the number of free variables is more than 100.

2.17.13 pdbDirStyle

[Top]
The style of your Protein Data Bank directory/directories. ICM will understand all of the listed styles, including distributions with compressed *.gz , *.bz2 and *.Z files. In all cases, if the s_pdbDir variable is set correctly, it is sufficient to refer to the file by its four-character code, e.g.
read pdb "1abc"
  1. "1abc.pdb"
  2. "pdb1abc.ent" <-- current choice
  3. "ab/pdb1abc.ent"
  4. "ab/pdb1abc.ent.Z"
  5. "ab/pdb1abc.ent.gz"
  6. "PDB website"
Do not forget to set the right pdb-style in your _startup file.

2.17.14 rejectAction

[Top]
what to do, if the MC procedure rejects mnreject trial conformations in a row. Four actions can be taken:
  1. " heat" <- default choice
  2. " stackjump"
  3. " random"
  4. " exit"


2.17.15 resLabelStyle

[Top]
style of residue labels invoked by double clicking on the residue or display residue label rs_ command. Possibilities:
  1. "A5" <- default choice
  2. "Ala 5"
  3. "ALA 5"
  4. "Ala"
  5. "ALA"
  6. "Alanine 5"
  7. "5"
  8. "A"
  9. " A"
  10. "Mol" - displays MOLECULAR name.
See also : resLabelShift, atomLabelStyle .

2.17.16 ribbonColorStyle

[Top]
- sets the ribbon coloring scheme.
1 = "type"default. colors by secondary structure type or explicit color
2 = "NtoC"colors each chain gradually blue-to-red from N- to C- (or from 5' to 3' for DNA)
3 = "alignment"if there is an alignment linked to a protein, color gapped backbone regions gray
4 = "reliability"3D gaussian averaging with selectSphereRadius of alignment strength in space
If ribbonColorStyle equals to 4, the conserved areas will be colored blue, while the most divergent will be red, and the intermediate conservation areas will be colored white. Example:
 
 nice "1eoc.a/" 
 make sequence a_1.1 
 read pdb sequence "3pcc.a/" 
 aa = Align(3pcc_a 1eoc_a) 
 ribbonColorStyle=3   # color gaps gray 
 color ribbon 
 ribbonColorStyle=4   # see alignment strength 
 color ribbon 

2.17.17 ribbonStyle

[Top]

specifies type of representation when display ribbon command is used. Options are the following:

  1. "ribbon" <- default choice
  2. "cylinders"
  3. "pencils"
  4. "numbers"
The first choice is a solid ribbon representation.
The second representation draws alpha-helices as cylinders. If a helix is too curved, ICM tries to split it into more straight helices. The radius of a helix depends on the helical curvature and is calculated to include all C atoms. Therefore, wide cylinders contain more curved helices. One can break a helix in any place with the 'assignsstructure{assign sstructure} command. (e.g. assign sstructure a_/182 "_" to break a helix by residue 182 ).
The third and the fourth, "pencils" and "number" refers to a style where secondary structure elements are represented by vectors (see Abagyan and Maiorov, 1988).

Note The segment parameters must be pre-calculated with the assign sstructure segment command. The segment description is used in fast searches for related topologies in the databank. The last option ("both") will display both representations of the backbone topology.

2.17.18 sequenceColorScheme

[Top]
defines the color scheme selection which is used to color alignment in ICM. The following preferences are defined:
  1. "no color"
  2. "residue type"
  3. "icm-combo" <-- current choice
  4. "consensus strength"
  5. "greyscale"
The actual color table containing the correspondence between colors, residues and consensus symbols is stored in the CONSENSUSCOLOR table. The strength of the consensus is regulated by the CONSENSUS_strength parameter. The last three preferences are illustrated below. figure figure figure

2.17.19 shineStyle

[Top]
defines how solid surfaces of cpk , skin and grobs reflect light. Possibilities:
  1. "white" <- default
  2. "color"
The first option gives a more shiny and greasy look.

2.17.20 surfaceMethod

[Top]
defines how the surface energy is calculated. Options available:
  1. "constant tension"
  2. "atomic solvation" <- default choice
  3. "apolar"
Explanations:
  1. "constant tension" means that the energy terms are just the product of the total solvent-accessible surface by the surfaceTension parameter. This term is intended to represent the surface energy if electrostatics takes the solvent polarization energy into account (see electroMethod )
  2. "atomic solvation" option is designed to evaluate the solvation energy purely on the basis of the atomic accessible surfaces instead of using the proper electrostatic evaluation of the polarization free energy. This fast but approximate scheme was proposed by Wesson and Eisenberg, (1992) . Atomic surface parameters derived from the experimental vacuum-water transfer energies are given in the icm.hdt file.
  3. "apolar" option is designed to evaluate the stabilization energy, which is the difference between denatured and folded states. The "atomic solvation" energy should be used with the van der Waals term while the "apolar" energy takes it into account and should be used without any other energy terms. The "apolar" atomic surface parameters were derived from the experimental octanol-water transfer energies and are given in the icm.hdt file.
Note, that if a part of the system is represented with grid potentials, one needs a special m_ga grid map for correct calculations of the surface accessibilities.

2.17.21 tzMethod

[Top]
method of imposing and calculating tethers. The three alternatives are the following
  1. "simple" : equal weight tethers to 3D points
  2. "weighted" : individual weights are calculated from atomic B-factors by dividing 8*PI2 by the B-factor value. All the weights additionally are multiplied by the tzWeight shell variable.
  3. "z_only" : tethers are imposed only in the Z-direction towards the target Z-coordinate. These type of tethers pulls a molecule into a z-plane. This may be useful if you are trying to generate a flat projection of a three-dimensional molecule.
  4. "function" : tethers can take a form of distance restraints with individual weights, upper and lower bounds. The three parameters are controlled by the following properties of the target atoms (not the source atoms as in the "weighted" case): individual weights are directly taked from bfactor values, the upper bounds from the area fields, and the lower bounds from the charge field. To set those values, use the set bfactor, set area and set charge commands respectively. applying linear force to atoms: to exert a constant force to an atom, set the formal charge of the target atom to a special value of 5. The b-factors will continue to serve as individual force constants and the direction of force will correspond to the vector from the origin to the target pdb-atom with this special value of formal charge.

Example for the "z_only" method in which we generate a more or less flat image of a chemical.
 
build smiles "c1c(ccc(c1)N(=O)=O)N2CCC(CC2)=CC(=O)NNC(=O)Nc3cc(ccc3)C(F)(F)F" 
tzMethod = "z_only" 
set tether a_   # sets tethers to x,y,z=0. coordinates for each atom 
minimize "vw,tz" 200 
dsChem a_//!h* 
 
#linear force. Use interface to set the linear force flag (formal charge) and bfactors 
copy a_ "tzcopy" 
tzMethod = "function" # will use bfactor and formal charge features of a_tzcopy. atoms 
set tether a_/1/ca a_tzcopy./1/ca  # drag the target atom where you want 
set charge formal a_tzcopy./1/ca 5. # number 5. signals ICM to interpret it as linear force 
set bfactor a_tzcopy./1/ca 5000.    # the force constant 
set tether a_/1/cb a_tzcopy./1/cb   # combine with normal tethers. 
display tether a_ 
minimize v_//?vt* "tz"   


2.17.22 varLabelStyle

[Top]
style of labels for free torsions, angles and bonds (i.e. internal variables) display variable label ~vs command. Possibilities:
  1. "greek" <- default choice
  2. "name"
  3. "value"


2.17.23 visitsAction

[Top]

[ heat | stackjump | random | mcexit ]

what to do, if one stack conformation is overvisited, i.e. mnvisits has been reached. The following actions are allowed:
  1. "random"
  2. "heat" <- default choice
  3. "stackjump"
  4. "exit"

Explanation of actions:
  • "heat" - double the simulation temperature
  • "stackjump" - jump to the conformation of the least visited slot in the stack.
  • "random" - randomize all free variables according to the mcJump parameter
  • "exit" - exit the MC procedure


2.17.24 vwMethod

[Top]
specifies the function type of the van der Waals term ("vw"). The following three functions can be chosen:
  1. "exact" <- default choice: Fvw = A/r12 - B/r6 . This is the usual van der Waals formula tending to infinity at r close to 0.
  2. "soft": Fsoft = Fvw , for Fvw <= 0. and Fsoft = Fvw *(t/(t+Fvw )) for Fvw > 0. (repulsion). This form preserves the function for the most populated part of the curve but smoothly reaches the limit t (defined by the vwSoftMaxEnergy real system variable)
  3. "old soft": another smooth approximation with the finite value at r=0, depending on the well depth.


2.17.25 webEntrezOption

[Top]
defines how to interpret the NCBI Entrez links.
  1. "none"
  2. "g:GenPept" <- default
  3. "r:Report"
  4. "f:FASTA"
  5. "a:ASN.1"
  6. "d:Entrez document summary"
  7. "m:MEDLINE links"
  8. "p:protein neighbors"
  9. "n:nucleotide links"
  10. "t:structure links"
  11. "c:genome links"

See also: s_webEntrezLink, web, show html, write html.

2.17.26 wireStyle

[Top]
style of the display wire mode. The choices are the following:
  1. "wire" <- default choice
  2. "chemistry"
  3. "tree"
Style "chemistry" shows different types of chemical bonds. Style "tree" shows a directed graph of the ICM-molecular tree. Yellow triangle indicates the entry atom of an ICM object. The tree can be rerooted with the write library a_newEntryAtom command. The topology of the complete tree including the virtual atoms can be shown with the display virtual command.
Note: The "tree" graph does not exist for objects of non-ICM type, e.g. those created by the read pdb command, and this preference will have no effect. The tree representation elucidates the ICM topology graph imposed on molecules and is crucial in the modify command, since it removes a branch up-tree from the specified entry atom, and replaces it by another branch. Use Ctrl-W to toggle between these styles (see set key command). The line width is controlled by the lineWidth parameter.

2.17.27 xrMethod

[Top]
The penalty function of correspondence between observed and calculated structure factors.
  1. "corr Fc:Fo" <- default
  2. "corr Fc2:Fo2"


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