Protinfo Proteomusic

[jobs monitor - listen to structures submitted by others!]

Proteomusic is a project to transform protein three dimensional (3D) structures into music that is complex and three dimensional. It is a full integration of science and music ("scimusic" or "muscience", take your pick). I created this for many purposes: for people who are visually challenged to "hear" protein structures; for connoisseurs of beauty who want to hear transformations of some the most visually beautiful objects found in nature; and experimental and avantgarde musicians who want to use this as a starting point to create some amazing music. The compositions I've created inspired by protein and proteome structure is available as Proteomusic: Twisted Music Inspired by Genomes and Proteomes, published under my TWISTED HELICES pseudonym. The Proteomusic album contains transformations of aesthetically good sounding proteins, famous proteins, designed proteins, protein models and decoys, as well as a detailed history along with a description of the codes, patterns, and transformations used. The recordings at Proteomusic are done using a lot more sophisticated equipment relative to using just your default MIDI player on the computer, so you can compare the two (the MIDI file generated via this server and the recording in the album, for instance 1ctf-A), if you so choose.

Preselected structure: or
PDB identifier or string: or
PDB file:

This web server module has three kinds of inputs with ascending order of preference: (1) A PDB identifier/name from a preselected list of aurally aesthetically pleasing structures (recommendations based on experimentation using the other inputs below welcome). (2) A PDB identifier-chain combination consisting of six characters exactly with the form NCCC-C where N is numeric and C is alphanumeric (click here for a large list of PDB identifiers with lengths and names) or any arbitrary string (for example, hemoglobin) in which case it will use the identifier that first matches the string. (3) PDB format coordinate file containing a single chain only. If both an identifier and a 3D structure are input, then the structure is what will be used. A number of parametres, including timing events, key, the scales of the melodies and chords, and the patches/instruments (in development) can be adjusted below. The output is a .mid (General) MIDI file which you can tweak to your desire. The MIDI compositions are presented in their full lush complexity, which may makes it hard to figure out what's going on beyond the wall of sound. To get around this, load the MIDI files into a (computer or other) sequencer and create and listen to your own (minimalist and varied) mixes.

Adjustable initial parametres (default values are preselected):

Key: Tempo: Time signature: /

Melodies, basslines, and bends residue to note assignments (default C major scale):
Residue A C D E F G H I K L M N P Q R S T V W Y
Note

Chords and tuplets residue to note assignments (default chromatic scale):
Residue A C D E F G H I K L M N P Q R S T V W Y
Note

While the Proteomusic album contains my idea of what some of these protein structures sound like, the web server module output is purely a programmatic transformation. If you're a musician, you can download the MIDI file which is enriched with tracks and deconvolute and modify as necessary to find the right mix of sounds and parametres. If you want a standalone version of this program, you can download the RAMP distribution source code and compile the program structure_to_music in ramp/src/music/ on a Unix system. The output generated is a text file that is understandable by the program midge. The web interface offers many tunable parametres, but the standalone version lets you do much more if you know a bit of programming.

This is under constant development and there's a lot more cool things that can be done with it. Finding the time to do so is another matter entirely!

Protinfo || Bioverse || Samudrala Computational Biology Research Group || protinfo@compbio.org