Scientific Research

Proms

Protein Molecular Surface Calculator

ProMS, the protein molecular surface calculator, is an integrated application that was developed to calculate and visualize molecular surface properties. The software is available to download free of charge for those interested. For access to the source code and documentation, please contact the lab.

The precursor to ProMS was PSPC (Protein Surface Property Calculator, 2003). ProMS development began in 2021 to update the software and provide additional functionality and features (read more below). For more information pertaining to PSPC, read here.

Molecular Surfaces

Molecular surfaces play an integral role in many biological processes. They are involved in protein folding, protein-protein interactions, molecular recognition, molecular docking, signaling, and more. In 1983, Michael Connolly developed an algorithm to generate the geometrical molecular surface of any protein given as in input.

In simple terms, the “Connolly surface” is generated by rolling an imaginary sphere over the 3D structure of the molecule. The output surface is thus a function of the sphere’s radius (also referred to as the probe radius). To this day, Connolly’s algorithm remains the most popular analytical method for mapping protein surfaces.

ProMS Features

For a more detailed summary of ProMS’ features, please reference the user manual.

  • Surface property calculations
    • Computations derived from Connolly’s msRoll and Nicolau’s work on atomic hydrophobicities
    • “Under the hood” – complexity and tediousness is hidden by the intuitive GUI
    • Multiple output file formats, including a .mov file if visualization is enabled
    • A sample of the output in tabular form can be found below
  • Integration within PyMOL & design of custom visualization modules
    • ProMS is an extension of Schrodinger’s PyMOL, an open-source molecular manipulation tool
    • Design of custom modules allows for the visualization of Nicolau’s hydrophobicity algorithms for any protein
  • Batch mode
    •  Enables the analysis of several proteins / different parameters at the click of a single button
  • Custom PDB integration
    • Supports PDBs that have been modified by the user or that have not yet been published to an online database

ProMS Sample Output

Below is a sample of the properties calculated by ProMS, aggregated into a table. The analyzed proteins correspond to the same proteins chosen for the BAD project. These properties were calculated using Nicolau’s Method 1 and the “Dgwif” hydrophobicity scale. There are four copies of each PDB because the probe radius (1.4A vs 20A) and the resolution (atomic vs amino acid) were changed (see last two columns). 

The majority of the output columns are self-explanatory. However, some of the secondary properties, such as density, specific density, and area extent are less intuitive.

  • Density = total charge or hydrophobicity / total area
  • Specific density = total charge or hydrophobicity / total charged area or hydrophobic area
  • Area extent = charged or hydrophobic area / total area
  • All areas are in units of square Angstroms
IDPDBProbe RadiusResolutionTotal Surface AreaPositive AreaNegative AreaHydrophobic AreaHydrophilic AreaTotal Positive ChargeTotal Negative ChargeTotal HydrophobicityTotal HydrophilicityPositive Charge DensityPositive Charge Specific DensityNegative Charge DensityNegative Charge Specific DensityPositive Area ExtentNegative Area ExtentHydrophobic DensityHydrophobic Specific DensityHydrophilic DensityHydrophilic Specific DensityHydrophobic Area ExtentHydrophilic Area Extent
11A4V1.4AT783482741502050292734-87-2521140.00440.0412-0.0112-0.02110.10560.5297-0.0321-0.12280.01460.03900.26170.3736
21A4V20.0AT4690112634162878166442-65-239210.00890.0373-0.0139-0.01910.24000.7284-0.0509-0.08300.00450.01270.61360.3548
31AO61.4AA5506495974546745374815028-120-387490.0010.003-0.002-0.0030.1740.826-0.007-0.0090.0010.0060.8240.148
41AO61.4AT550649597454672208132983395-974-298014650.0070.041-0.018-0.0210.1740.826-0.054-0.1350.0270.0440.4010.599
51AO620.0AA269836381206012675617943-94-30110.0020.007-0.003-0.0050.2360.764-0.011-0.01100.0060.9920.007
61AO620.0AT26983609420451187647781280-413-1677960.010.046-0.015-0.020.2260.758-0.062-0.0890.0040.0120.6950.288
71B0L1.4AA2801964182160123691389213-59-1622400.002-0.002-0.0030.2290.771-0.006-0.0070.0010.0060.8460.139
81B0L1.4AT280196418216011278915230181-458-16727890.0060.028-0.016-0.0210.2290.771-0.06-0.1310.0280.0520.4560.544
91B0L20.0AA164865756107291630213017-42-14000.0010.003-0.003-0.0040.3490.651-0.009-0.00900.0070.9890.008
101B0L20.0AT16486563210260108565037118-183-897660.0070.021-0.011-0.0180.3420.622-0.054-0.0830.0040.0130.6580.306
111BJ51.4AT281094632231481053717244183-477-12836740.00650.0395-0.0170-0.02060.16480.8235-0.0456-0.12180.02400.03910.37480.6135
121BJ520.0AT158752496123389348548690-239-759500.00570.0362-0.0151-0.01940.15720.7772-0.0478-0.08120.00310.00910.58880.3456
131BUW1.4AA2538140682127220142506511-52-1073200.003-0.002-0.0020.160.838-0.004-0.0050.0010.0060.7940.2
141BUW1.4AT25381406821272893916401156-407-11988350.0060.038-0.016-0.0190.160.838-0.047-0.1340.0330.0510.3520.646
151BUW20.0AA127023295940711546115618-35-7260.0010.005-0.003-0.0040.2590.741-0.006-0.0060.0010.0060.9090.091
161BUW20.0AT127023283937465476110129-167-601770.010.039-0.013-0.0180.2580.738-0.047-0.0920.0060.0130.5150.481
171CF31.4AA208974096168011658642447-47-1092500.002-0.002-0.0030.1960.804-0.005-0.0070.0010.0060.7940.203
181CF31.4AT20897409616801946211435121-358-12375950.0060.03-0.017-0.0210.1960.804-0.059-0.1310.0290.0520.4530.547
191CF320.0AA12549310093821190064811-42-10440.0010.004-0.003-0.0050.2470.748-0.008-0.00900.0060.9480.052
201CF320.0AT12549299492219049316685-173-764400.0070.028-0.014-0.0190.2390.735-0.061-0.0840.0030.0130.7210.252
211CHO1.4AT11913163658053375406649-125-3671920.00410.0301-0.0105-0.02160.13730.4873-0.0308-0.10890.01610.04720.28330.3413
221CHO20.0AT7746170556304736259946-91-310180.00600.0271-0.0118-0.01620.22010.7269-0.0400-0.06540.00230.00690.61140.3356
231GPE1.4AT31439436617130938712109157-366-11054840.00500.0360-0.0116-0.02140.13890.5449-0.0351-0.11770.01540.04000.29860.3852
241GPE20.0AT20175512514374114378061139-241-810590.00690.0272-0.0119-0.01670.25400.7124-0.0402-0.07080.00290.00740.56690.3996
251HLS1.4AT313759025481859127815-5176-1520.00470.0248-0.0162-0.01990.18800.81200.02430.0410-0.0483-0.11870.59270.4073
261HLS20.0AT26484722162161510186-37-106120.00210.0121-0.0139-0.01700.17810.8163-0.0402-0.06590.00450.01170.61000.3845
271HML1.4AA609711034993427116942-13-36800.003-0.002-0.0030.1810.819-0.006-0.0090.0010.0050.7010.278
281HML1.4AT6097110349932581351543-107-3541890.0070.04-0.018-0.0220.1810.819-0.058-0.1370.0310.0540.4230.577
291HML20.0AA46921112353638058865-13-3840.0010.005-0.003-0.0040.2370.754-0.008-0.010.0010.0050.8110.189
301HML20.0AT4692110033712940153144-61-267200.0090.04-0.013-0.0180.2350.718-0.057-0.0910.0040.0130.6270.326
311HRC1.4AA54791038444045738303-11-3440.0010.004-0.002-0.0030.190.81-0.006-0.0080.0010.0060.8350.152
321HRC1.4AT5479103844402311316742-92-2731040.0080.041-0.017-0.0210.190.81-0.05-0.1180.0190.0330.4220.578
331HRC20.0AA39731288263938311418-10-3300.0020.007-0.003-0.0040.3240.664-0.008-0.00900.0030.9640.036
341HRC20.0AT3973127926052477140656-46-191110.0140.044-0.012-0.0180.3220.656-0.048-0.0770.0030.0080.6240.354
351IGT1.4AA595731244147131476111094724-132-2796100.002-0.002-0.0030.2090.791-0.005-0.0060.0010.0060.7990.184
361IGT1.4AT5957312441471312638233191343-984-312117990.0060.028-0.017-0.0210.2090.791-0.052-0.1180.030.0540.4430.557
371IGT20.0AA3731492912797732794349335-111-215200.0010.004-0.003-0.0040.2490.75-0.006-0.0070.0010.0060.8790.094
381IGT20.0AT373148820271292324712702229-479-15021600.0060.026-0.013-0.0180.2360.727-0.04-0.0650.0040.0130.6230.34
391M1J1.4AT8814518119685523707349597580-1441-418319470.00660.0320-0.0164-0.02100.20560.7777-0.0475-0.11280.02210.03930.42060.5627
401M1J20.0AT5549315143387093305920793400-673-22402220.00720.0264-0.0121-0.01740.27290.6976-0.0404-0.06770.00400.01070.59570.3747
411PIF1.4AA171934104130891347435287-36-792700.002-0.002-0.0030.2390.761-0.005-0.0060.0020.0080.7840.205
421PIF1.4AT171934104130897955923799-279-9193880.0060.024-0.016-0.0210.2390.761-0.053-0.1160.0230.0420.4630.537
431PIF20.0AA11355302383311005812427-31-63110.0010.003-0.003-0.0040.2660.734-0.006-0.0060.0010.010.8860.109
441PIF20.0AT11355295480586666434665-133-469460.0060.022-0.012-0.0170.260.71-0.041-0.070.0040.0110.5870.383
452CHA1.4AA190104537144731531733418-41-742200.002-0.002-0.0030.2390.761-0.004-0.0050.0010.0070.8060.176
462CHA1.4AT19010453714473854910461118-299-9355190.0060.026-0.016-0.0210.2390.761-0.049-0.1090.0270.050.450.55
472CHA20.0AA11137453464901038846818-27-6320.0020.004-0.003-0.0040.4070.583-0.006-0.00600.0060.9330.042
482CHA20.0AT111374276647574453305116-106-472150.010.027-0.01-0.0160.3840.581-0.042-0.0640.0010.0050.6690.297
492LYZ1.4AA579616164179466710012-11-25700.002-0.002-0.0030.2790.721-0.004-0.0050.0010.0070.8050.173
502LYZ1.4AT5796161641792658313836-84-3351960.0060.023-0.015-0.020.2790.721-0.058-0.1260.0340.0630.4590.541
512LYZ20.0AA44892014244941922514-9-2310.0010.002-0.002-0.0040.4490.546-0.005-0.00600.0060.9340.056
522LYZ20.0AT4489201423723164122329-35-243130.0060.014-0.008-0.0150.4490.528-0.054-0.0770.0030.0110.7050.272
532RCJ1.4AT312775031277503127750-4805032270.00000.0000-0.0154-0.01540.00001.00000.00000.00000.01030.01030.00001.0000
542RCJ20.0AT1681740364680364680-37602350.00000.0000-0.0022-0.01030.00000.21680.00000.00000.00140.00640.00000.2168
553BLG1.4AA747012776192582915893-16-4870.0010.003-0.002-0.0030.1710.829-0.006-0.0080.0010.0050.780.213
563BLG1.4AT7470127761923118435153-133-4302240.0070.042-0.018-0.0220.1710.829-0.058-0.1380.030.0510.4170.583
573BLG20.0AA54171284406849614567-16-5020.0010.006-0.003-0.0040.2370.751-0.009-0.0100.0040.9160.084
583BLG20.0AT5417128139893385188549-75-306220.0090.039-0.014-0.0190.2360.736-0.056-0.090.0040.0120.6250.348
593GHG1.4AA918781944672356695252057541-185-45711700.002-0.002-0.0030.2120.788-0.005-0.0070.0010.0060.7570.224
603GHG1.4AT9187819446723563718554617599-1487-475426890.0070.031-0.016-0.0210.2120.788-0.052-0.1280.0290.0490.4050.594
613GHG20.0AA558511884536805441271090466-130-332650.0010.004-0.002-0.0040.3370.659-0.006-0.0080.0010.0060.790.195
623GHG20.0AT5585118001353443374219603444-588-26402480.0080.025-0.011-0.0170.3220.633-0.047-0.0780.0040.0130.6040.351
633M7P1.4AA153143187121261147934254-31-692000.002-0.002-0.0030.2080.792-0.005-0.0060.0010.0060.750.224
643M7P1.4AT153143187121266743857186-248-8745510.0060.027-0.016-0.020.2080.792-0.057-0.130.0360.0640.440.56
653M7P20.0AA1010226007501772322704-26-541300.002-0.003-0.0030.2570.743-0.005-0.0070.0010.0060.7650.225
663M7P20.0AT10102221270965691361830-115-466450.0030.014-0.011-0.0160.2190.702-0.046-0.0820.0040.0130.5630.358
673RGK1.4AA721513265888600612084-15-4860.0010.003-0.002-0.0030.1840.816-0.007-0.0080.0010.0060.8320.168
683RGK1.4AT7215132658882869434657-122-3531700.0080.043-0.017-0.0210.1840.816-0.049-0.1230.0240.0390.3980.602
693RGK20.0AA49331814306848419110-11-4700.0020.006-0.002-0.0040.3680.622-0.01-0.0100.0060.9810.019
703RGK20.0AT4933173229113131151267-56-311190.0140.039-0.011-0.0190.3510.59-0.063-0.0990.0040.0130.6350.307
714ACQ1.4AA240174453551948181825745374982-489-117132200.002-0.002-0.0030.1890.811-0.005-0.0060.0010.0060.760.224
724ACQ1.4AT24017445355194818936971464761324-3835-1221093540.0060.029-0.016-0.020.1890.811-0.051-0.130.0390.0640.390.61
734ACQ20.0AA1002602234677913829901669586-252-6851160.0010.004-0.003-0.0030.2230.777-0.007-0.0080.0010.0070.8280.167
744ACQ20.0AT10026021405714785176541118525-1106-39734650.0050.025-0.011-0.0150.2140.713-0.04-0.0770.0050.0110.5160.41
754ARX1.4AT8533719583657544581539522341-13171506-43820.00400.0174-0.0154-0.02000.22950.77050.01760.0329-0.0513-0.11090.53690.4631
764ARX20.0AT27747722819255165529931140-327-12521340.00500.0190-0.0120-0.01700.26100.6940-0.0450-0.07600.00500.01300.59700.3580
774INS1.4AA52659544311346114651-10-21700.002-0.002-0.0020.1810.819-0.004-0.0060.0010.0050.6570.278
784INS1.4AT526595443112191307425-84-2511180.0050.027-0.016-0.020.1810.819-0.048-0.1150.0220.0380.4160.584
794INS20.0AA39444372888275010280-7-18500.002-0.002-0.0030.1110.732-0.005-0.0070.0010.0050.6970.261
804INS20.0AT39443792842130019218-38-91290.0020.023-0.01-0.0130.0960.721-0.023-0.070.0080.0160.330.487
814W8J1.4AA4377999013387734526925215-90-2325800.002-0.002-0.0030.2260.774-0.005-0.0070.0010.0060.7890.211
824W8J1.4AT437799901338771961524164248-711-249713050.0060.025-0.016-0.0210.2260.774-0.057-0.1270.030.0540.4480.552
834W8J20.0AA2774678621988424167357919-71-197270.0010.003-0.003-0.0040.2830.717-0.007-0.0080.0010.0080.8710.129
844W8J20.0AT27746722819254165519931139-326-12521330.0050.019-0.012-0.0170.2610.694-0.045-0.0760.0050.0130.5970.358
856KXS1.4AA136902282911086101104512497647-292-67613800.002-0.002-0.0030.2070.793-0.005-0.0060.0010.0060.8070.182
866KXS1.4AT136902282911086105873378168744-2207-723544580.0050.026-0.016-0.020.2070.793-0.053-0.1230.0330.0570.4290.571
876KXS20.0AA66836148545198260890529733-190-457290.0010.002-0.003-0.0040.2220.778-0.007-0.00800.0060.9110.079
886KXS20.0AT6683613663505593779226429204-820-27313200.0030.015-0.012-0.0160.2040.756-0.041-0.0720.0050.0120.5650.395
896TAV1.4AT24017445355194818936971464761324-3835-1221093540.00550.0292-0.0160-0.01970.18880.8112-0.0508-0.13030.03890.06390.39010.6099
906TAV20.0AT10026121406714785176612702525-1106-39744660.00520.0245-0.0110-0.01550.21350.7129-0.0396-0.07680.00460.03670.51630.1267

Additional Output

In addition to the properties above, ProMS also outputs detailed area calculations and the solvent-excluded volume via Connolly’s msRoll. Furthermore, using the protein’s molecular weight from literature, an atomic volume can also be calculated. Lastly, sphericity, monolayer volume density, and monolayer weight can all be computed from the aforementioned values. The results can be found in the table below.

IDProteinPDBProbe RadiusMolecular WeightAtomic VolumeContact AreaReentrant AreaMolecular AreaAccessible AreaSolvent-Excluded VolumeSphericityMonolayer Volume DensityMonolayer Weight
1Alpha-2-macroglobulin6TAV1.4666.20746144708081693672401742255226693830.15410.09221.3815
2Alpha-2-macroglobulin6TAV20.0666.207461441262891019036314184914052370.67140.56285.1454
3Alpha-amylase1PIF1.455.47621265451117421719317508646750.45320.41942.4863
4Alpha-amylase1PIF20.055.4762126218111381135633308904970.85840.60002.8432
5Alpha-chymotrypsin1CHO1.431.2935045379576021139612193356720.45980.42562.1162
6Alpha-chymotrypsin1CHO20.031.29350451707576774626385529720.88060.60252.3014
7Alpha-lactalbulmin1A4V1.414.17158702217392661427090162660.50540.46531.7686
8Alpha-lactalbulmin1A4V20.014.17158701324557469020530241580.86170.60041.7530
9Beta-lactoglobulin3BLG1.418.32205182554491674708179219560.50760.46711.8791
10Beta-lactoglobulin3BLG20.018.32205181415276541821829313730.88790.60331.9133
11Cry1Ac protoxin4ARX1.4134.90151088265122651285337850873078030.25830.20581.0485
12Cry1Ac protoxin4ARX20.0134.901510884352731227747664242244370.64370.55163.4694
13Cytochrome c1HRC1.412.37138541972350754796296133720.49720.45861.7338
14Cytochrome c1HRC20.012.37138541213853397318590203810.90820.60591.7298
15Fibrinogen1M1J1.4311.78349194280685901187078897992595620.22600.16872.2255
16Fibrinogen1M1J20.0311.7834919489554598554931368254012920.47410.43864.3282
17Fibronectin3M7P1.4550.00616000102114822503327946930.54170.4930166.5667
18Fibronectin3M7P20.0550.00616000100223123311528374590.79190.5920146.8680
19Glucose oxidase1GPE1.4133.16149139113212575637077362561477010.36450.32782.6898
20Glucose oxidase1GPE20.0133.161491393191985720175476462174500.86680.60093.8104
21Hemoglobin1BUW1.464.73724987790175942538424663718110.32910.28791.8575
22Hemoglobin1BUW20.064.73724982321247112703348471156220.90350.60532.8427
23Human (or bovin) Serum Albumin1BJ51.467.71758359335198112914629678728190.28930.24181.6169
24Human (or bovin) Serum Albumin1BJ520.067.71758353872659626983613092730000.75420.58561.6224
25Immunoglobulin G (or anti hPSA)1IGT1.4148.68166522198773969759574636071693830.24850.19441.6259
26Immunoglobulin G (or anti hPSA)1IGT20.0148.681665225403677537315829733223130.60920.53502.9136
27Immunoglobulin M2RCJ1.4990.0011088001370601757153127754229932531220.06190.01920.8177
28Immunoglobulin M2RCJ20.0990.001108800241016576416817433620113925510.35860.32134.3918
29Insulin1HLS1.45.796485125718803137403161070.51500.47301.4114
30Insulin1HLS20.05.7964851022546264815911100810.85230.59941.2805
31Lactoferrin1B0L1.476.52857028869191512802028525883100.34230.30292.0125
32Lactoferrin1B0L20.076.52857022711621516487428601426190.80070.59322.8635
33Lysozyme2LYZ1.414.33160502063373457966642160710.53130.48551.8810
34Lysozyme2LYZ20.014.33160501264363449019965234960.88360.60281.8132
35Myoglobin3RGK1.417.98201382497471972167993191090.47900.44301.9188
36Myoglobin3RGK20.017.98201381385040517821387283310.86800.60112.0024

Software Specifications

  • ProMS is written in Python 3
    •  Makes heavy use of Pandas & Tkinter modules
  • Extends Schrodinger’s PyMOL as a “plugin” that can be installed via their main application
  • Uses Michael Connolly’s msRoll.exe program to compute the molecular surface (part of his molecular surface package)
  • Selected protein outputs have been stored in the same MySQL database as BAD

Additional Information

  • For access to the ProMS source code, please contact the lab
    • User manual can be downloaded here

Relevant papers & links: