Rosetta MCP
Protein modeling and design using the Rosetta suite via Docker
An MCP (Model Context Protocol) server for molecular modeling with 7 core tools:
- Protein structure refinement using Relax protocol
- Mutation stability analysis (ΔΔG calculations)
- Submit protein-protein docking jobs with async tracking
- Submit loop modeling jobs
- Submit protein-ligand docking jobs
- Monitor and retrieve job results
- List available example structures
Quick Start with Docker
Approach 1: Pull Pre-built Image from GitHub
The fastest way to get started. A pre-built Docker image is automatically published to GitHub Container Registry on every release.
# Pull the latest image
docker pull ghcr.io/macromnex/rosetta_mcp:latest
# Register with Claude Code (runs as current user to avoid permission issues)
claude mcp add rosetta -- docker run -i --rm --user `id -u`:`id -g` -v `pwd`:`pwd` ghcr.io/macromnex/rosetta_mcp:latest
Note: Run from your project directory. ` pwd ` expands to the current working directory.
Requirements:
- Docker
- Claude Code installed
That's it! The Rosetta MCP server is now available in Claude Code.
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Approach 2: Build Docker Image Locally
Build the image yourself and install it into Claude Code. Useful for customization or offline environments.
# Clone the repository
git clone https://github.com/MacromNex/rosetta_mcp.git
cd rosetta_mcp
# Build the Docker image
docker build -t rosetta_mcp:latest .
# Register with Claude Code (runs as current user to avoid permission issues)
claude mcp add rosetta -- docker run -i --rm --user `id -u`:`id -g` -v `pwd`:`pwd` rosetta_mcp:latest
Note: Run from your project directory. ` pwd ` expands to the current working directory.
Requirements:
- Docker
- Claude Code installed
- Git (to clone the repository)
About the Docker Flags:
-i— Interactive mode for Claude Code--rm— Automatically remove container after exit- `
--userid -u:id -g` — Runs the container as your current user, so output files are owned by you (not root) -v— Mounts your project directory so the container can access your data
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Verify Installation
After adding the MCP server, you can verify it's working:
# List registered MCP servers
claude mcp list
# You should see 'rosetta' in the output
In Claude Code, you can now use all 7 Rosetta tools:
refine_protein_structurecalculate_ddgsubmit_protein_dockingsubmit_loop_modelingsubmit_ligand_dockingget_job_statusget_job_result
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Next Steps
- Detailed documentation: See detail.md for comprehensive guides on:
- Available MCP tools and parameters
- Local Python environment setup (alternative to Docker)
- Example workflows and use cases
- PyRosetta license information
- Troubleshooting
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Usage Examples
Once registered, you can use the Rosetta tools directly in Claude Code. Here are some common workflows:
Example 1: Protein Structure Refinement
I have a protein structure at /path/to/protein.pdb. Can you use refine_protein_structure to refine it with 5 trajectories and 100 cycles, saving results to /path/to/results/?
Example 2: Mutation Stability Analysis
I want to analyze how mutations A10G, A10L, and A10F affect the stability of /path/to/protein.pdb. Can you use calculate_ddg with 5 trajectories and report which mutations are stabilizing vs destabilizing?
Example 3: Protein-Protein Docking
I have a protein complex at /path/to/complex.pdb with chain break at residue 150. Can you submit a docking job using submit_protein_docking with 20 trajectories, save results to /path/to/docking/, and monitor progress until completion?
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Troubleshooting
Docker not found? ``bash docker --version # Install Docker if missing ``
Claude Code not found? ```bash
Install Claude Code
npm install -g @anthropic-ai/claude-code ```
PyRosetta not available?
- All tools work in demo mode without PyRosetta
- For full functionality, a PyRosetta academic or commercial license is required
- See detail.md for PyRosetta installation instructions
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License
Rosetta License — Based on Rosetta Commons software suite. Academic use is free with registration.











