Interactive Graphics for Molecular Studies and Microscopy

Principal Investigator: Russell M. Taylor II
Funding Agency: National Institutes of Health
Agency Number: 5-P41-RR02170-16

Abstract
The UNC Resource develops forefront molecular graphics techniques and harnesses them into prototype research tools for biochemists studying macromolecules. The objective is to understand the structure and function of proteins and nucleic acids, in order to understand disease and to design drugs.

We are currently developing another different and unique Resource capability: the use of high- performance graphics to provide a virtual-environment real-time inter-face to scanning probe microscopes. This enhances image comprehensibility, revealing features not visible otherwise. More exciting real- time visualization, coupled with force-display capability, allows the user to control the microscope probe by both feeling the objects imaged and, in a different mode by placing and dissecting them.

Our Resource is the only molecular graphics group composed chiefly of computer scientists, not chemists. As such, we have special capabilities and unique hardware and software facilities. We collaborate closely with biochemists and serve as bridge-builders between the disciplines.

We wildcat radical new molecular graphics ideas to the prototype state. Winning ideas are spun off to the thriving commercial industry or into autonomous research projects. Although we cannot develop and support commercial products, we test each prototype on users who come here; then we distribute it to interested users, document it, help them install it, fix bugs, and provide telephone support.