---
name: "6ft"
section: "1"
platform: "linux"
package: "pftools"
version: "3.2.12-1"
release: "Debian 13 (Trixie)"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/6ft"
---

# 6ft(1)

6-frame translation of a DNA sequence into protein

## NAME

6ft - 6-frame translation of a DNA sequence into protein

## SYNOPSIS

- **6ft**

  \[ **-h** \] \[ **-r** \| **-s** \] \[ **-W** *width* \] **\<** *sequence\_library*

## DESCRIPTION

**6ft** translates all six reading frames of a double-stranded DNA sequence into individual protein sequences. Stop codons are represented by character "**O**". The program **6ft** reads input fasta formatted DNA sequences from standard input. If the sequences are contained in a file, the input can be redirected from this file using the shell's input redirector '**\<**' as shown in the *synopsis* section. The *sequence\_library* contains one or several sequences in Pearson/Fasta format.

This program may be used for searching genomic or EST sequence databases with a protein profile. Better results are usually obtained by first converting the protein profile into a frame-search profile, and then searching a 2-frame translation of the DNA sequence database generated with pftools program **2ft**(1), *see* manual pages of pftools programs  [**ptof**(1)](/ptof/1.md) and   **2ft**(1).

## OPTIONS

- **-h**

  Display usage help text.

- **-r**

  Translate only reverse (antisense) strand.\
   This option is mutualy exclusive with option **-s**.\
   Default: translate both strands

- **-s**

  Translate only sense strand.\
   This option is mutualy exclusive with option **-r**.\
   Default: translate both strands

- **-W** *width*

  Set sequence output width.\
   The value of '*width*' specifies how many residues will be output on one line.\
   Type: integer\
   Default: 60

## EXAMPLES

*See* manual pages of pftools program [**ptof**(1)](/ptof/1.md).

## SEE ALSO

[**ptof**(1)](/ptof/1.md), [**pfsearch**(1)](/pfsearch/1.md), [**pfscan**(1)](/pfscan/1.md)

## AUTHOR

The **pftools** package was developed by Philipp Bucher.\
 Any comments or suggestions should be addressed to \<pftools@sib.swiss\>.