# How to choose a symmetry for a ab initio dimer docking?

**URL:** <https://ask.bioexcel.eu/t/how-to-choose-a-symmetry-for-a-ab-initio-dimer-docking/3809>\
**Category:** HADDOCK\
**Created:** [July 18, 2022, 9:36am UTC](https://ask.bioexcel.eu/t/how-to-choose-a-symmetry-for-a-ab-initio-dimer-docking/3809 "2022-07-18T09:36:35Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![fcastilla26](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/94ad74/32.png) [@fcastilla26](https://ask.bioexcel.eu/u/fcastilla26)\
**Post date:** [July 18, 2022, 9:36am UTC](https://ask.bioexcel.eu/t/how-to-choose-a-symmetry-for-a-ab-initio-dimer-docking/3809/1 "2022-07-18T09:36:35Z")

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Hi,

I am trying to perform a ab-initio docking of a dimer but I do not know the kind of symmetry that it could have. Which selection of symmetry restraints would be the best then?

Thank you for your time.

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**Author:** ![amjjbonvin](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/flex013/user_avatar/ask.bioexcel.eu/amjjbonvin/32/23_2.png) [@amjjbonvin](https://ask.bioexcel.eu/u/amjjbonvin)\
**Post date:** [July 18, 2022, 12:07pm UTC](https://ask.bioexcel.eu/t/how-to-choose-a-symmetry-for-a-ab-initio-dimer-docking/3809/2 "2022-07-18T12:07:14Z")

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If it is a homodimer, then I would expect then C2 symmetry

And also NCS symmetry between the chains.

Next to CM restraints

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![fcastilla26](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/94ad74/32.png) [@fcastilla26](https://ask.bioexcel.eu/u/fcastilla26)\
**Post date:** [July 18, 2022, 12:10pm UTC](https://ask.bioexcel.eu/t/how-to-choose-a-symmetry-for-a-ab-initio-dimer-docking/3809/3 "2022-07-18T12:10:47Z")

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thank you for the answer. How many pairs of symmetry restraints would it be recommended to define for the homodimer?

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**Author:** ![amjjbonvin](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/flex013/user_avatar/ask.bioexcel.eu/amjjbonvin/32/23_2.png) [@amjjbonvin](https://ask.bioexcel.eu/u/amjjbonvin)\
**Post date:** [July 18, 2022, 12:29pm UTC](https://ask.bioexcel.eu/t/how-to-choose-a-symmetry-for-a-ab-initio-dimer-docking/3809/4 "2022-07-18T12:29:04Z")

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Just one 🙂

More would be redundant