| name | zero_shot_mutation_workflow |
| description | Zero-shot mutation engineering with VenusFactory PLMs. Use when the user wants beneficial mutations, directed evolution candidates, or stability/fitness ranking from a FASTA sequence or PDB structure. Do NOT use for ProteinMPNN inverse folding (proteinmpnn_design_workflow), sequence homology search (protein_sequence_similarity_search), or experimental wet-lab protocols alone. |
| license | Apache-2.0 |
| metadata | {"version":"1.0","skill-author":"VenusFactory2"} |
Zero-Shot Mutation Workflow
Overview
Orchestrates VenusFactory mutation tools: sequence-only PLMs (ESM-1v / ESM2 / VenusPLM) or structure-aware PLMs (ESM-IF1 / SaProt / ProtSSN / MIF-ST). Outputs CSV + heatmap paths in the rich JSON envelope — treat scores as computational hypotheses, not wet-lab results.
VenusFactory execution
read_skill with skill_id: zero_shot_mutation_workflow (this file).
- Call the hub tools below by exact name (do not invent Forge/ESM SDK calls).
- Parse
status, file_info.file_path, and any data / heatmap paths.
Project Tools (VenusFactory2)
| Tool | Args | Returns | When |
|---|
| zero_shot_mutation_sequence_prediction | sequence or fasta_file; model_name (default ESM2-650M); backend (local/pjlab); optional out_dir | status JSON + CSV/heatmap | Only sequence available |
| zero_shot_mutation_structure_prediction | structure_file (PDB); model_name (default ESM-IF1); backend; optional out_dir | status JSON + CSV/heatmap | PDB available (prefer over sequence-only) |
| read_fasta | file_path | sequence content | Inspect uploaded FASTA |
| get_seq_from_pdb_chain_a | pdb_file | chain A sequence | Need sequence from structure |
| render_protein_structure | pdb_path, out_dir, style options | image under file_info | Visualize top mutation sites |
Sequence models: ESM-1v, ESM2-650M, ESM-1b, VenusPLM.
Structure models: ESM-IF1, SaProt, ProtSSN, MIF-ST (and related names exposed by the tool).
Workflow
A. Sequence-only path
- Ensure FASTA via
read_fasta or pass sequence directly.
- Call
zero_shot_mutation_sequence_prediction with an explicit out_dir under the session workspace.
- Summarize top-ranked substitutions; warn that scores are model-dependent.
B. Structure path (preferred when PDB exists)
- Validate PDB path (may come from
predict_structure_esmfold or download_alphafold_structure_by_uniprot_id).
- Call
zero_shot_mutation_structure_prediction.
- Optional:
render_protein_structure highlighting candidate sites; optional cross-check with predict_residue_function (Activity/Binding/Conserved Site).
When NOT to use
- Designing a new sequence for a fixed backbone →
proteinmpnn_design_workflow
- Need experimental structure QA / AlphaFold confidence →
alphafold_database / protein_structure_pipeline
- Homolog discovery →
protein_sequence_similarity_search or foldseek_structural_similarity
Common mistakes
- Calling non-existent ESM Forge APIs instead of hub tools.
- Using structure models without a real PDB path.
- Presenting zero-shot ranks as measured ΔΔG / activity without caveats.
- Omitting
out_dir when the session needs a stable artifact path.