FingerPRINTScan (EBI)

FingerPRINTScan identifies and analyzes protein family fingerprints in protein sequences by scanning them against the PRINTS database to infer functional and evolutionary relationships.

Key Features:

• Database Integration: Scans sequences against the PRINTS database (version 24.0, September 1999) containing approximately 7200 motifs covering globular and membrane proteins and modular polypeptides.
• Motif Grouping (Fingerprints): Uses groups of motifs (fingerprints) that provide diagnostic power beyond individual motifs by capturing contextual biological relevance.
• Automated Database Maintenance: Employs an automated strategy for database maintenance to keep the PRINTS collection current and reliable.
• Object-relational Schema: Implements an object-relational schema within the PRINTS database to enhance data management efficiency and support faster searches.
• Search Capabilities: Supports BLAST, fingerprint, and text searches against the PRINTS entries.

Scientific Applications:

• Protein family identification: Identifies PRINTS fingerprints in sequences to classify and study protein families.
• Functional annotation: Matches to PRINTS motifs enable inference of potential protein function.
• Evolutionary inference: Fingerprint matches support inference of evolutionary relationships and lineage among proteins.
• Structure and interaction inference: Motif and fingerprint matches inform hypotheses about protein structure and interaction networks.

Methodology:

Scans input protein sequences against curated PRINTS fingerprints and identifies matches based on motif similarity and contextual relevance.