PyETV

Requirements

• PyMOL 2.x (Open-Source or Incentive)
• Python 3.8 or newer
• PyQt5 (bundled with modern PyMOL builds)
• Internet access for loading traces from the ET server (optional)

Note: Legacy Python 2 / Tcl-Tk versions of PyETV are no longer supported, but remain available for archival purposes.

Installation

1. Download the plugin:

   • PyETV_v1.4.py — Python 3, PyQt-based GUI (Recommended)
   • PyETV_v1.3.py — Python 3, Tkinter GUI (may not work on newer systems)
   • PyETV.py — Python 2 legacy version (unsupported)

2. Install the plugin using one of the following methods:

   • Recommended: In PyMOL, open Plugin → Install Plugin… and select the downloaded file.

     

   • (Alternative) Copy the plugin file into PyMOL’s plugin directory.

User Interface and Screenshots (Legacy)

The screenshots below are from legacy versions of PyETV. While the graphical interface has been modernized in PyETV_v1.4 (PyQt), the overall workflow and concepts remain the same.

Once installed, the current plugin appears in PyMOL under: Plugin → PyETV Viewer – PyQt

Annotated screenshots of the legacy interface are available in PowerPoint and PDF formats.

Videos

The following videos demonstrate legacy versions of PyETV. While the interface has evolved, the conceptual workflow remains applicable.

Input Examples

# Load structures
load query_1gotA.pdb, 1gotA
load query_1gotB.pdb, 1gotB
zoom

# Provide structure and rank lists for PyETV
cmd._et_tools_structurenamelist = ['1gotA','1gotB']
cmd._et_tools_etvxurllist = [
  'C:\\ET_1gotA.ranks',
  'https://media.lichtargelab.org/ET/static/pyetv/1gotB.ranks'
]

Notes

• Hovering over UI elements in PyETV displays contextual tooltips.
• PyETC is a complementary PyMOL plugin for ET analysis.

Citation

Lua RC and Lichtarge O.
"PyETV: A PyMOL Evolutionary Trace viewer to analyze functional site predictions in protein complexes"
Bioinformatics 2010; doi: 10.1093/bioinformatics/btq566