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PHENIX suite for macromolecular structure determination. Use for cryo-EM model building, real-space refinement, map analysis, validation, and AlphaFold model processing.

farnunglab By farnunglab schedule Updated 2/9/2026
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name: phenix description: PHENIX suite for macromolecular structure determination. Use for cryo-EM model building, real-space refinement, map analysis, validation, and AlphaFold model processing.

PHENIX - Macromolecular Structure Determination

PHENIX (Python-based Hierarchical ENvironment for Integrated Xtallography) is a comprehensive suite for structure determination via X-ray crystallography, cryo-EM, and neutron diffraction.

Installation

PHENIX requires a license (free for academics). Download from: https://www.phenix-online.org/

After installation, source the environment:

source /path/to/phenix-1.21/phenix_env.sh

Documentation

Cryo-EM Workflow Overview

Map → Mtriage (assess quality)
     ↓
Auto-sharpen / Resolve (improve map)
     ↓
Dock AlphaFold model OR Map-to-model (build)
     ↓
Real-space refine
     ↓
Validation

Core Commands

1. Map Quality Assessment (mtriage)

Evaluate map resolution, FSC, and statistics.

# Basic map statistics
phenix.mtriage map.mrc

# With half-maps (calculates d_FSC)
phenix.mtriage map.mrc half_map_1.mrc half_map_2.mrc

# With model (calculates d_model, FSC_model)
phenix.mtriage map.mrc model.pdb

# Full analysis
phenix.mtriage map.mrc model.pdb half_map_1.mrc half_map_2.mrc nproc=8

Key resolution estimates:

Metric Meaning
d_FSC Resolution from half-map FSC at 0.143
d99 Resolution cutoff where Fourier coefficients become negligible
d_model Resolution where model map best matches experimental map
d_FSC_model Resolution where model and map Fourier coefficients diverge

2. Map Sharpening (auto_sharpen)

Optimize map interpretability by adjusting B-factor.

# Basic auto-sharpening
phenix.auto_sharpen map.mrc resolution=3.2

# With model for better masking
phenix.auto_sharpen map.mrc model.pdb resolution=3.2

# With half-maps (uses FSC for local sharpening)
phenix.auto_sharpen map.mrc half_map_1.mrc half_map_2.mrc resolution=3.2

# Output options
phenix.auto_sharpen map.mrc resolution=3.2 output_file=sharpened_map.mrc

3. Map Density Modification (resolve_cryo_em)

Improve map by density modification (reduces noise, improves connectivity).

phenix.resolve_cryo_em map.mrc resolution=3.2

# With sequence for better results
phenix.resolve_cryo_em map.mrc resolution=3.2 seq_file=sequence.fasta

# With half-maps
phenix.resolve_cryo_em map.mrc half_map_1.mrc half_map_2.mrc resolution=3.2

4. Process AlphaFold Models

Prepare predicted models for use in cryo-EM.

# Remove low-confidence regions, convert pLDDT to B-factors
phenix.process_predicted_model model.pdb

# With pLDDT cutoff (remove residues below threshold)
phenix.process_predicted_model model.pdb pae_file=pae.json \
    remove_low_confidence_residues=True \
    minimum_plddt=70

# Split into domains
phenix.process_predicted_model model.pdb pae_file=pae.json split_model_by_domains=True

5. Dock Model into Map

dock_in_map (rigid-body docking)

# Dock one chain
phenix.dock_in_map map.mrc model.pdb resolution=3.2

# Multiple chains/copies
phenix.dock_in_map map.mrc chain_a.pdb chain_b.pdb resolution=3.2 \
    search_copies=2

# With sequence
phenix.dock_in_map map.mrc model.pdb seq_file=sequence.fasta resolution=3.2

dock_predicted_model (for AlphaFold models)

phenix.dock_predicted_model map.mrc model.pdb resolution=3.2

dock_and_rebuild (dock + local rebuilding)

phenix.dock_and_rebuild map.mrc model.pdb resolution=3.2 nproc=8

6. Model Building

PredictAndBuild (AlphaFold-assisted, recommended)

# Builds model using AlphaFold predictions
phenix.predict_and_build map.mrc seq_file=sequence.fasta resolution=3.2 nproc=8

map_to_model (de novo)

phenix.map_to_model map.mrc resolution=3.2 seq_file=sequence.fasta nproc=8

trace_and_build (rapid backbone tracing)

phenix.trace_and_build map.mrc resolution=3.2 seq_file=sequence.fasta

7. Real-Space Refinement

The workhorse for refining models against cryo-EM maps.

# Basic refinement (5 macro-cycles by default)
phenix.real_space_refine model.pdb map.mrc resolution=3.2

# Use multiple processors for B-factor refinement
phenix.real_space_refine model.pdb map.mrc resolution=3.2 nproc=8

# More macro-cycles for poor starting model
phenix.real_space_refine model.pdb map.mrc resolution=3.2 macro_cycles=10

# With ligand restraints
phenix.real_space_refine model.pdb map.mrc ligand.cif resolution=3.2

Refinement Strategies

# Default: minimization + local grid search + ADP refinement
phenix.real_space_refine model.pdb map.mrc resolution=3.2

# Add morphing (good for initial fitting)
phenix.real_space_refine model.pdb map.mrc resolution=3.2 \
    run=minimization_global+local_grid_search+morphing+adp

# Add simulated annealing (escape local minima)
phenix.real_space_refine model.pdb map.mrc resolution=3.2 \
    run=minimization_global+local_grid_search+morphing+simulated_annealing+adp

# Rigid body only
phenix.real_space_refine model.pdb map.mrc resolution=3.2 run=rigid_body \
    rigid.eff  # file defining rigid groups

Geometry Targets

# Stricter geometry (for high-resolution)
phenix.real_space_refine model.pdb map.mrc resolution=2.5 \
    target_bonds_rmsd=0.01 target_angles_rmsd=1.0

# Looser geometry (for low-resolution)
phenix.real_space_refine model.pdb map.mrc resolution=4.5 \
    target_bonds_rmsd=0.02 target_angles_rmsd=2.0

Secondary Structure Restraints

phenix.real_space_refine model.pdb map.mrc resolution=3.2 \
    secondary_structure.enabled=True

NCS Constraints

# Auto-detect NCS (default)
phenix.real_space_refine model.pdb map.mrc resolution=3.2 ncs_constraints=True

# Disable NCS
phenix.real_space_refine model.pdb map.mrc resolution=3.2 ncs_constraints=False

# Manual NCS definition
phenix.real_space_refine model.pdb map.mrc resolution=3.2 ncs.eff

Reference Model Restraints

phenix.real_space_refine model.pdb map.mrc resolution=3.2 \
    reference_model.enabled=True \
    reference_model.file=high_res_model.pdb

8. Validation

# Model vs map validation
phenix.model_vs_data model.pdb map.mrc resolution=3.2

# Get validation report (for deposition)
phenix.validation_cryoem model.pdb map.mrc resolution=3.2 \
    half_map_1.mrc half_map_2.mrc

# MolProbity-style validation
phenix.molprobity model.pdb

9. Map Utilities

map_box (extract region)

# Extract box around model
phenix.map_box map.mrc model.pdb

# Specific selection
phenix.map_box map.mrc model.pdb selection="chain A"

# Keep original origin
phenix.map_box map.mrc model.pdb keep_origin=True

combine_focused_maps

phenix.combine_focused_maps map1.mrc map2.mrc map3.mrc \
    model.pdb resolution=3.2

map_symmetry

# Find symmetry in map
phenix.map_symmetry map.mrc

# Apply symmetry
phenix.map_symmetry map.mrc symmetry=D2

10. Model Utilities

superpose_pdbs

phenix.superpose_pdbs fixed=reference.pdb moving=model.pdb

pdbtools

# Renumber chains
phenix.pdbtools model.pdb rename_chain_id.old_id=A rename_chain_id.new_id=B

# Remove waters
phenix.pdbtools model.pdb remove="water"

# Remove hydrogens
phenix.pdbtools model.pdb remove="element H"

# Reset B-factors
phenix.pdbtools model.pdb set_b_iso=50

geometry_minimization

# Idealize geometry without map
phenix.geometry_minimization model.pdb

11. Ligand Tools

eLBOW (generate restraints)

# From SMILES
phenix.elbow --smiles="CCO" --id=ETH

# From PDB ligand
phenix.elbow --chemical_id=ATP

# From molecule file
phenix.elbow ligand.mol2

LigandFit

phenix.ligandfit map.mrc model.pdb ligand.pdb resolution=3.2

12. Water Building (douse)

phenix.douse map.mrc model.pdb resolution=3.2

# Stricter peak height cutoff
phenix.douse map.mrc model.pdb resolution=3.2 peak_cutoff=3.0

Common Parameter Files

NCS Groups (ncs.eff)

pdb_interpretation {
  ncs_group {
    reference = chain A
    selection = chain B
  }
  ncs_group {
    reference = chain C
    selection = chain D
    selection = chain E
  }
}

Rigid Body Groups (rigid.eff)

refinement.rigid_body {
  group = chain A
  group = chain B or chain C
  group = chain D and resseq 1:100
}

Custom Geometry Restraints (edits.eff)

geometry_restraints {
  edits {
    bond {
      atom_selection_1 = chain A and resseq 123 and name SG
      atom_selection_2 = chain B and resseq 456 and name SG
      distance_ideal = 2.03
      sigma = 0.02
    }
  }
}

Atom Selection Syntax

PHENIX uses a powerful selection syntax:

chain A                          # All atoms in chain A
chain A and resseq 1:100         # Residues 1-100 in chain A
resname ALA                      # All alanines
name CA                          # All CA atoms
chain A and name CA              # CA atoms in chain A
element Fe                       # All iron atoms
water                            # All waters
not water                        # Everything except water
chain A or chain B               # Chains A and B
(chain A and resseq 50) around 5 # Within 5Å of residue 50 in chain A

Tips

  1. Resolution is required for CCP4/MRC maps - PHENIX cannot determine it automatically

  2. Always run mtriage first to assess map quality and get accurate resolution

  3. Use nproc for parallel processing (especially for ADP refinement)

  4. Start with default refinement, then add morphing/SA if needed

  5. For AlphaFold models: use process_predicted_model first, then dock_predicted_model

  6. Check validation between refinement rounds to track improvements

  7. Model format: PHENIX accepts both PDB and mmCIF; use mmCIF for large structures

Citation

Macromolecular structure determination using X-rays, neutrons and electrons: 
recent developments in Phenix. D. Liebschner et al. Acta Cryst. (2019). D75, 861-877
Install via CLI
npx skills add https://github.com/farnunglab/benchaid --skill phenix
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