Protein Structure Prediction and Structural Genomics

• DOI: 10.1126/science.1065659
• Publication Date: 2002-07-27T09:40:17Z
• Authors: David Baker; Andrej Sali
• Keywords: Structural genomics; Threading (protein sequence); Protein structure database; Protein function prediction; Sequence (biology); Similarity (geometry); Loop modeling; Protein methods

Genome sequencing projects are producing linear amino acid sequences, but full understanding of the biological role these proteins will require knowledge their structure and function. Although experimental determination methods providing high-resolution information about a subset proteins, computational prediction provide valuable for large fraction sequences whose structures not be determined experimentally. The first class protein methods, including threading comparative modeling, rely on detectable similarity spanning most modeled sequence at least one known structure. second de novo or ab initio predict from alone, without relying fold level between any structures. In this Viewpoint, we begin by describing essential features accuracy models, application to function, both single scale whole genomes. We then discuss important that play in growing worldwide effort structural genomics.