If you’ve ever struggled with selecting specific residues in a complex biomolecular structure, you’re not alone. Navigating 3D molecular models to highlight or colorize residues—particularly over long sequences or multiple chains—can be time-consuming and error-prone. Fortunately, SAMSON offers an integrated Sequence View designed specifically to address this challenge.
The Sequence View in SAMSON provides an interactive linear representation of your molecule’s sequence. But it’s more than just a visual aid—it’s tightly integrated with the rest of the interface. When you select residues in the Sequence View, those selections are automatically reflected in the Document View and the 3D Viewport. Likewise, selections made directly in the 3D Viewport or Document View are mirrored in the Sequence View. This synchronization enables a fluid, precise workflow when analyzing or editing molecular models.
What makes the Sequence View especially useful is its ability to display biochemical information through colorization. For instance, you can choose to color residues based on their hydrophobicity or charge, and these visual patterns are automatically transferred to both the Sequence View and the 3D representation. This dual visualization can help identify important structural or functional regions in a molecule more effectively.
Accessing the Sequence View is straightforward. You can either:
- Click the View sequence button from the Home menu.
- Right-click on a structure in the Document View and choose Structural model > View sequence.
Dealing with molecules made of multiple chains? SAMSON makes it easy to choose which ones you want to visualize. A pop-up dialog will let you specify the target sequences before the view is rendered, so you can focus on exactly what matters for your task.
The Sequence View is particularly helpful for:
- Quick structural editing through residue selection
- Visual analysis of residue properties
- Enhanced understanding of complex molecular models
To learn more about the Sequence View and its capabilities, visit the official SAMSON documentation: https://documentation.samson-connect.net/users/latest/sequence-view/.
SAMSON and all SAMSON Extensions are free for non-commercial use. You can download SAMSON at https://www.samson-connect.net.