TEXTAL: Crystallographic Protein Model Building Using AI and Pattern Recognition

Gopal, Kreshna, Romo, Tod D., McKee, Erik W., Pai, Reetal, Smith, Jacob N., Sacchettini, James C., Ioerger, Thomas R.

AI Magazine 

TEXTAL is a computer program that automatically interprets electron density maps to determine the atomic structures of proteins through X-ray crystallography. Electron density maps are traditionally interpreted by visually fitting atoms into density patterns. This manual process can be time-consuming and error prone, even for expert crystallographers. To automate the process, TEXTAL employs a variety of AI and pattern-recognition techniques that emulate the decision-making processes of domain experts.