This page is a subsection of the list of sequence alignment software.

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Multiple alignment visualization tools typically serve four purposes:

• Aid general understanding of large-scale DNA or protein alignments
• Visualize alignments for figures and publication
• Manually edit and curate automatically generated alignments
• Analysis in depth

The rest of this article is focused on only multiple global alignments of homologous proteins. The first two are a natural consequence of most representations of alignments and their annotation being human-unreadable and best portrayed in the familiar sequence row and alignment column format, of which examples are widespread in the literature. The third is necessary because algorithms for both multiple sequence alignment and structural alignment use heuristics which do not always perform perfectly. The fourth is a great example of how interactive graphical tools enable a worker involved in sequence analysis to conveniently execute a variety if different computational tools to explore an alignment's phylogenetic implications; or, to predict the structure and functional properties of a specific sequence, e.g., comparative modelling.

Alignment viewers, editors[edit]

See also[edit]

Software for exploring PTP sequence
and structure files at http://ptp.cshl.edu and http://science.novonordisk.com/ptp

Genedoc - version 2.6.02
An excellent multiple sequence alignment viewer, editor, and analyzer with advanced shading utility for data visualization, paginated printouts and figure export. In addition, the alignment information can be applied to 3D graphics using structure information from the Protein Data Bank (PDB).

Pfaat (Protein Family Alignment Annotation Tool)
Pfaat is a Java-based protein sequence alignment application designed to facilitate the analysis, curation, and annotation of large protein sequence families. Key features of Pfaat include the ability to align collections of sequences, group sequences into specific families, analyze sequences based on a number of similarity criteria, and annotate sequences and specific residue positions with text descriptions. For Mac users, Pfaat is a good alternative to the Genedoc alignment viewer.

ClustalX - version 1.81 (Mac OS X Version, click here)
This program provides an integrated window-based environment for performing multiple sequence alignments and for calculating homology trees. Trees are calculated from imported or newly generated alignments and are easily bootstrapped to derive confidence values for the groupings in a tree. Specifically, the pulldown menus at the top of the window allow you to load alignment files (*.aln or *.msf) and select options required to add new sequences to the alignment, change the order of sequences in the alignment and realign a sub-range of the alignment. The Tree menu allows you to calculate Phylip format tree files (*.ph) based on the loaded alignment. Subsequently you can bootstrap the generated tree (*.phb) and view this tree using the program Treeview (see below).

Treeview - version 1.6.6 (Mac OS X Version, click here)
This is an easy-to-use program for viewing and printing tree files. The program reads the phylip format tree (*.ph or *.phb) calculated by ClustalX and visualizes bootstrap labels at the node of the tree. When using ClustalX to bootstrap trees remember to change the default output format option for boostrap labels from branch to node (e.g. in the Tree pull-down menu in ClustalX select 'output format options' and choose node instead of branch for bootstrap labels). In the Tree pull-down menu in Treeview choose show internal edge labels if you are viewing a bootstrapped tree.

Swiss-PdbViewer - version 3.7
The Swiss-PdbViewer provides a user-friendly interface that allows you to view and analyse several protein structures at the same time. The proteins can be superimposed in order to compare their active sites or any other relevant parts. Amino acid mutations, H-bonds, angles and distances between atoms are easy to obtain using the menu interface. In addition, several basic modeling tools are available.

Boulangerie Farhat

PyMOL - version 0.98
PyMOL is an open source molecular viewer and modeling system supported on Windows, Mac and Linux. The program has outstanding molecular representations (lines, sticks, dots, mesh, spheres, ribbons, cartoons, and surfaces) and has a built-in photorealistic ray tracer that allows for generation of high-quality molecular graphics images and animations. The program can be run interactively (using menu-driven commands and options) or via input scripts, but most efficiently by a combination of both approaches. All manipulations can be saved to a log file (*.pml) and the generation of command scripts (via automatic logging) allows the user to save favorite views and representations of any Protein Data Bank struture file (*.pdb) and to reuse these scripts for viewing other structures. Of note, PyMOL must be installed on your computer prior to running a script (*.pml) or session file (*.pse). All scripts have the file extension *.pml and are executed from the File Menu by selecting run and locating the script file on your hard drive. The PyMOL scripts from our website require that the appropiate PDB file is loaded. To find the appropiate PDB file, use a text editor to view the instructions in the heading of the *.pml file. (In contrast, PyMOL session files with the extensiion *.pse do not require a preloaded PDB file). To read more about this excellent program and its user-sponsored concept go to http://pymol.sourceforge.net/

Pfast Lube

Vector NTI
A highly integrated and comprehensive software package for desktop sequence analysis and molecular biology data management. Provides a powerful collection of sequence analysis software in one program. For details on this liciensed software see http://www.informaxinc.com/