November 1, 2005 (Vol. 25, No. 19)
URL:
http://blaster.docking.org/zinc
Rating:
Strong Points: Number of chemicals
Weak Points: Lack of clarity
Summary:
Another one of those sites about which I say “hmmmm.” ZINC is not Commercial is a site that Shakespeare might have advised, “Though doth protest too much.” I guess being commercial is a risk when housing a database of commercially available compounds. As stated at the site, “ZINC contains over 3.3 million compounds in ready-to-dock, 3-D formats.” Ready to dock? Binding of a ligand to a protein receptor, dummy. Another comment was more puzzling—ZINC provides “a free database of commercially available compounds for virtual screening.” Virtual screening? I couldn’t figure that one out. There appears to be a lot offered here, but the lack of descriptions and poor organization will leave most visitors wanting more. I certainly did.
