How to Use the UniProt MCP in VS Code Copilot
Standardize UniProt access across your team with Copilot Chat in VS Code.
Works with every AI agent you already use
…and any MCP-compatible client
Connect UniProt MCP to VS Code Copilot
Create your Vinkius account to connect UniProt to VS Code Copilot and route execution through our secure gateway. The platform manages server hosting, runtime updates, and security layers. Configuration requires no manual server provisioning.
MCP Server: UniProt Search
When you commit the MCP config to `.vscode/mcp.json`, every developer on the team gets immediate access to `search_uniprot`. They can prompt Copilot Chat with a keyword—say, 'spike protein'—and get back name, gene, organism, and function annotations. This ensures everyone uses the same validated data source for their code, keeping your team's knowledge base consistent.
Get Protein Details via UniProt
Need to validate a protein ID? Use `get_uniprot_protein`. Because this configuration is shared in the repository, every developer can ask Copilot Chat to fetch full details for any given accession ID. It's critical for team consistency; you don’t have to document how to access external APIs when it’s committed alongside your code.
Gene Mapping using UniProt MCP Server
If the task is gene-centric, `search_uniprot_gene` delivers all protein isoforms and annotations. By putting this capability in `.vscode/mcp.json`, you make it a mandatory part of your team's development toolkit. It simplifies complex biology tasks, ensuring everyone knows how to pull data from a known gene locus.
Set up UniProt MCP in VS Code Copilot
Prerequisites
- VS Code 1.99 or later with GitHub Copilot extension
- Active Vinkius subscription with a valid endpoint token
- 1
Open MCP configuration
Open the Command Palette (
Cmd+Shift+P/Ctrl+Shift+P) and run "MCP: Add Server". Select HTTP (Streamable) as the server type. VS Code will create.vscode/mcp.jsonin your workspace. - 2
Add the UniProt MCP
Paste the JSON snippet shown on the right into your
.vscode/mcp.json. Replace[YOUR_TOKEN_HERE]with your endpoint token from cloud.vinkius.com. - 3
Switch to Agent mode
Open Copilot Chat (
Cmd+Shift+I/Ctrl+Shift+I) and switch to Agent mode using the dropdown. MCP tools are only available in Agent mode — they do not appear in Edit or Ask modes. - 4
Verify the connection
In the Copilot Chat input, type
#to list available tools. You should see the UniProt tools listed. Try asking: "List my recent UniProt transactions" and Copilot will invoke them automatically.
{
"mcpServers": {
"uniprot-mcp": {
"url": "https://edge.vinkius.com/[YOUR_TOKEN_HERE]/mcp"
}
}
}Independent Platform Disclaimer: Vinkius is an independent platform and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, sponsored by, verified by, or otherwise authorized by UniProt. All third-party trademarks, logos, and brand names are the property of their respective owners. Their use on this website is strictly for informational purposes to identify service compatibility and interoperability.
Why Choose Vinkius
Vinkius connects your tools to AI with real-time monitoring and automatic cost savings — all from one dashboard.
Real-time monitoring
Live
visibility into every interaction
Connect your favorite tools to your AI and see exactly what's happening — every request, every response, in real time.
Built-in savings
60%
lower AI costs
Vinkius compresses data between your apps and your AI automatically. Lower bills every month — no configuration required.
Single dashboard
One
place for every integration
Every tool your AI connects to, managed from a single screen. One account, complete control.
Common questions about UniProt MCP in VS Code Copilot
Use it with your favorite AI tools
Connect this server to Cursor, Claude, VS Code, and more.
Start using the UniProt MCP today
We host it, we monitor it, we maintain it. You just paste one token.
