Q.080 - Can I build stretches of ideal helix/strand ?

Yes, if you use the macros in file://rose.bmc.uu.se/pub/gerard/omac/build_alpha_beta.odb . This file contains a set of macros and datablocks which will enable you to build stretches of 5 helical or strand residues at once. Use this when you are converting an edited skeleton into a Ca trace (Baton/Bone_Pick_Ca) to speed up this process.

If you figure out how the macros work, you can easily "steal" longer helices from other structures:

• Move_zone [identify a helix in some other protein structure]
• [move the zone into the density; do *NOT* hit Yes or No]
• Merge_atoms ... [to merge the present coordinates into your molecule]
• No
• Use lego_auto_mc, lego_auto_sc etc. to touch up

You will need an empty poly-ala molecule; see Q.075.