SLiMFinder: a probabilistic method for identifying over-represented, convergently evolved, short linear motifs in proteins.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Short linear motifs (SLiMs) in proteins are functional microdomains of fundamental importance in many biological systems. SLiMs typically consist of a 3 to 10 amino acid stretch of the primary protein sequence, of which as few as two sites may be important for activity, making identification of novel SLiMs extremely difficult. In particular, it can be very difficult to distinguish a randomly recurring "motif" from a truly over-represented one. Incorporating ambiguous amino acid positions and/or variable-length wildcard spacers between defined residues further complicates the matter.

Methodology/principal findings

In this paper we present two algorithms. SLiMBuild identifies convergently evolved, short motifs in a dataset of proteins. Motifs are built by combining

SUBMITTER: Edwards RJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC1989135 | biostudies-literature | 2007 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature