How to load a molecule of your choice.

In order to view the molecule of your choice, first you need an atomic coordinate file, which we'll call a PDB file because that is the most common format. You can either load a PDB file from your computer's hard disk, or, if your computer is connected to the Internet, you can get the file directly from the Protein Data Bank (without having a copy on your disk).

Loading a PDB file from your computer's hard disk.

  1. A copy of the desired PDB file must be on your computer's hard disk. Instructions for downloading PDB files are at

  2. Press the Browse button. Change the file type to Brookhaven PDB, .pdb.

  3. Use the Browse dialog to locate the PDB file on your computer, and select Open. The filename will appear in the slot next to the Browse button.

  4. Press the Load button. The molecule should appear in the space at the left (Chime, with "MDL" in the lower right corner).

Loading a PDB file via Internet from the Protein Data Bank.

  1. You have not recorded the URL for the closest mirror of the PDB. The default (Brookhaven National Laboratory, New York USA) will be used unless you record a different URL. For optimal service, please press the button below and follow instructions.

  2. Determine the 4 character PDB identification code for the molecule of interest. If you do not know this code, use PDB Lite to search for it.

  3. In the Protein Explorer window, enter the 4-character code into the PDB ID slot, then push the "Load" button.