name: biotite
description: "Use Biotite for computational molecular biology workflows:
sequence analysis, structure analysis, biological database access, file-format
conversion, application wrappers, and optional molecular interfaces."
disable-model-invocation: true
metadata:
disco-role: operating
license: BSD 3-Clause
Biotite
Use this repo skill when a task involves Biotite, biotite.sequence, biotite.structure, biological sequence/structure files, RCSB/Entrez/UniProt/PubChem/AlphaFold DB access, external bioinformatics application wrappers, or optional PyMOL/RDKit/OpenMM/Matplotlib integration.
Biotite is a Python package for computational molecular biology. It represents sequences and molecular structures with NumPy-backed objects and exposes APIs for file parsing, local analysis, database queries, visualization, and external tool orchestration.
Start Here
- Confirm Biotite is installed in the active Python environment with the safe root check below.
- Route to the focused sub-skill that owns the task; avoid using source-repo examples, tests, or docs at runtime.
- Use sibling cross-links when a workflow spans fetch → parse → analyze → visualize.
- Treat database calls, external executables, GUI rendering, and optional interfaces as opt-in side effects.
- Read references/troubleshooting.md for install/import, build, optional dependency, and routing failures.
Install And Import Check
For normal package use, prefer wheel installs:
python -m pip install biotite
python - <<'PY'
import biotite
import biotite.sequence as seq
import biotite.structure as struc
print(biotite.__version__)
print(seq.ProteinSequence("ACDE"))
print(struc.AtomArray(1).array_length())
PY
For source checkouts, Biotite may need Python 3.12+, NumPy, Cython/build tooling, Rust build support, and compiled extension wheels. Prefer wheel installs for use-only tasks and source installs only for development or unreleased APIs.
Run the bundled diagnostic when routing a user problem:
python scripts/check_biotite_environment.py
It performs import/version checks and can also call the sub-skill optional diagnostics without contacting networks or running analyses.
Sub-skill Routes
- sequence-analysis: sequence objects, alphabets, annotations, translation/codons, pairwise and multiple alignment, substitution matrices, k-mer searches, profiles, phylogenetic trees, and sequence graphics decisions.
- structure-analysis:
Atom, AtomArray, AtomArrayStack, filters, bonds, geometry, superposition, RMSD/RMSF, SASA, hydrogen bonds, base pairs, pseudoknots, periodic boxes, secondary structure, and trajectory analysis.
- file-io-formats: FASTA, FASTQ, GenBank, GFF, Clustal, PDB, PDBx/mmCIF, BinaryCIF, GRO, PDBQT, MOL/SDF, trajectory IO, and conversions into Biotite objects.
- database-application: RCSB, AlphaFold DB, Entrez, UniProt, PubChem, BLAST, Clustal Omega, MAFFT, MUSCLE, DSSP, AutoDock Vina, SRA, Tantan, and ViennaRNA wrappers.
- interfaces-visualization: PyMOL, RDKit, OpenMM, Matplotlib-backed graphics, sequence/structure visualization, and optional dependency diagnostics.
Common Workflow Routing
- Remote sequence alignment: use
database-application for Entrez/UniProt/RCSB retrieval, file-io-formats for FASTA/GenBank parsing, then sequence-analysis for alignment/profile/phylogeny.
- Protein structure measurement: use
database-application for RCSB/AFDB fetch if needed, file-io-formats for PDBx/BinaryCIF parsing, then structure-analysis for filtering, bonds, geometry, SASA, contacts, or superposition.
- Molecular interoperability: use
file-io-formats for MOL/SDF/PDBx loading, structure-analysis to prepare coordinates/bonds, then interfaces-visualization for RDKit/OpenMM/PyMOL/plotting.
- External bioinformatics tools: use
database-application first to check binaries and wrapper lifecycle; route outputs to file-io-formats, sequence-analysis, or structure-analysis.
Shared References And Scripts