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Updated: Jan 3, 2026

Author Spotlight: Exploring Cellular Processes by Modeling Ligands in Cryo-EM Maps
Published on: July 19, 2024
Current developments in Coot for macromolecular model building of Electron Cryo-microscopy and Crystallographic Data
Ana Casañal1, Bernhard Lohkamp2, Paul Emsley1
1MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Cambridge Biomedical Campus, Cambridge, UK.
Abstract:
Coot is a tool widely used for model building, refinement, and validation of macromolecular structures. It has been extensively used for crystallography and, more recently, improvements have been introduced to aid in cryo-EM model building and refinement, as cryo-EM structures with resolution ranging 2.5-4 A are now routinely available. Model building into these maps can be time-consuming and requires experience in both biochemistry and building into low-resolution maps. To simplify and expedite the model building task, and minimize the needed expertise, new tools are being added in Coot. Some examples include morphing, Geman-McClure restraints, full-chain refinement, and Fourier-model based residue-type-specific Ramachandran restraints. Here, we present the current state-of-the-art in Coot usage.
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