Exploiting structural classifications for function prediction: towards a domain grammar for protein function

The ability to assign function to proteins has become a major bottleneck for comprehensively understanding cellular mechanisms at the molecular level. Here we discuss the extent to which structural domain classifications can help in deciphering the complex relationship between the functions of prote...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Current opinion in structural biology 2009-06, Vol.19 (3), p.349-356
Main Authors: Dessailly, Benoît H, Redfern, Oliver C, Cuff, Alison, Orengo, Christine A
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animals
Humans
Models, Molecular
Protein Folding
Protein Structure, Tertiary
Proteins - chemistry
Proteins - classification
Proteins - metabolism
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Summary:The ability to assign function to proteins has become a major bottleneck for comprehensively understanding cellular mechanisms at the molecular level. Here we discuss the extent to which structural domain classifications can help in deciphering the complex relationship between the functions of proteins and their sequences and structures. Structural classifications are particularly helpful in understanding the mosaic manner in which new proteins and functions emerge through evolution. This is partly because they provide reliable and concrete domain definitions and enable the detection of very remote structural similarities and homologies. It is also because structural data can illuminate more clearly the mechanisms by which a broader functional repertoire can emerge during evolution.
ISSN:0959-440X
1879-033X
DOI:10.1016/j.sbi.2009.03.009