Visualisation of complex protein structures has just become a simple click-through process, thanks to a new online feature introduced primarily for Molecular BioSystems' readers and authors. Now anyone can view and appreciate the key biomolecular structures in three dimensions, whatever their level of expertise. 

The new 3D visualisation uses the PDB identification code of the molecule to generate an image using FirstGlance in Jmol. Viewing the resulting image in the free online applet is easy. 

You can rotate the molecule, customise the view and zoom in to specific areas of interest. Other options include 

changing the background, hiding ligands and showing water molecules. One of the views displays colour-coded amino acid sidechains and nucleotide bases. Prefer to see a molecule as spacefilling spheres? or as the secondary structure with helices and strands? No problem - simply select the button from the control panel and the desired view appears immediately. Guidance and explanations are always visible on screen, whatever the view you have selected or operation you are performing. 

"Authors can now add an extra dimension to their articles with this new feature," commented Editor Sarah Thomas. "We are delighted to be able to offer an enhanced publishing experience to our authors and readers." 

All authors need to do is provide the PDB identification code on submission of their article - we do the rest. When a paper is published online, links to the 3D images can be found on the Electronic Supplementary Information (ESI) page of the online article. The ESI service, which is a well-established part of the innovative production systems in place within RSC Publishing, also provides opportunities to download ChemDraw and ISISDraw files, and view movies - all of which enhance any article which takes advantage of the service.