SIR2000, a program for the automatic ab initio crystal structure solution of proteins.

A new phasing procedure is described working both in direct and in reciprocal space. The procedure has been implemented into the program SIR2000, the heir to SIR99, and it is able routinely to solve ab initio crystal structures of proteins without any use of prior information and any user intervention. The moduli and the flow diagram of SIR2000 are also described and its efficiency tested on several protein diffraction data sets. Success has been attained for crystal structures with up to almost 2000 non-hydrogen atoms in the asymmetric unit and resolution higher than 1.2 A. The phasing process is analysed to provide a better insight into the role of the various steps of the procedure.

SIR99, a program for the automatic solution of small and large crystal structures.

The moduli and flow diagram of the program SIR99 are described. New phasing algorithms are proposed working both in direct and in reciprocal space. Their cooperative work is able to solve the structures of both small and large molecules. In particular, small proteins can be solved ab initio without any use of prior information and any user intervention. The efficiency of the various algorithms employed by SIR99 has been tested, and the role of the tangent formula clarified. The user is also provided with some practical information concerning the computer power needed.