Expansin Engineering Database

Expansin Engineering Database integrates sequence, structural, and model data for expansins and expansin-like homologues to support comparative analysis, conservation characterization, genome annotation, and engineering related to plant cell-wall loosening and biomass degradation.

Key Features:

• Comprehensive Data Collection: Integrates sequence and structural data on expansins from Bacteria, Fungi, and Viridiplantae and includes expansin-like homologues such as carbohydrate binding modules, glycoside hydrolases, loosenins, swollenins, cerato-platanins, and EXPNs.
• Sequence-Structure-Function Analysis: Supports global sequence alignment and protein sequence network analysis to explore sequence-structure-function relationships and the diversity of expansin domains.
• Profile Hidden Markov Models (HMMs): Provides profile HMMs for the two expansin domains that enable standard numbering schemes, comprehensive conservation analyses, and genome annotation.
• Refined Classification: Proposes a refined classification system for expansins and carbohydrate binding modules to clarify evolutionary relationships and functional roles.
• Novel Sequence Motifs: Supplies novel sequence motifs to aid in the identification of candidate genes and the engineering of expansins.

Scientific Applications:

• Biomass Degradation: Enables exploration of strategies that leverage expansin-mediated cell wall loosening for more efficient biomass degradation.
• Genome Annotation: Assists in annotating genomes with expansin-related sequences using profile HMMs and conservation analyses.
• Protein Engineering: Supports engineering efforts by identifying conserved key amino acids and novel sequence motifs within expansin domains.

Methodology:

Global sequence alignment, protein sequence network analysis, and development of profile Hidden Markov Models (HMMs) for the two expansin domains to identify conserved amino acids and perform conservation analyses and genome annotation.