ePMV Embeds Molecular Modeling into Professional Animation Software Environments

SummaryIncreasingly complex research has made it more difficult to prepare data for publication, education, and outreach. Many scientists must also wade through black-box code to interface computational algorithms from diverse sources to supplement their bench work. To reduce these barriers we have developed an open-source plug-in, embedded Python Molecular Viewer (ePMV), that runs molecular modeling software directly inside of professional 3D animation applications (hosts) to provide simultaneous access to the capabilities of these newly connected systems. Uniting host and scientific algorithms into a single interface allows users from varied backgrounds to assemble professional quality visuals and to perform computational experiments with relative ease. By enabling easy exchange of algorithms, ePMV can facilitate interdisciplinary research, smooth communication between broadly diverse specialties, and provide a common platform to frame and visualize the increasingly detailed intersection(s) of cellular and molecular biology.

Graphical AbstractFigure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload high-quality image (400 K)Download as PowerPoint slideHighlights► ePMV provides molecular viewer functionality inside of professional animation software ► ePMV interoperates molecular modeling tools on the same data and from a single interface ► ePMV enables production of high-quality molecular visualizations, both static and dynamic ► ePMV facilitates communication between researchers and scientific visualization specialists