hmoment

hmoment calculates and plots hydrophobic moments of protein sequences to analyze their amphipathic properties within the European Molecular Biology Open Software Suite (EMBOSS).

Key Features:

• Hydrophobic moment calculation: Computes the hydrophobic moment of protein sequences to identify amphipathic regions with distinct hydrophilic and hydrophobic characteristics.
• Visualization: Produces plots of hydrophobic moment values to represent amphipathic patterns along sequences.
• ACD-based customization: Supports customization and extension via Application Configuration Definition (ACD) files for parameterization without modifying source code.

Scientific Applications:

• Amphipathic region detection: Identifies amphipathic segments in proteins for analysis of secondary structure and surface properties.
• Protein–membrane interaction studies: Assesses regions likely to interact with lipid membranes by revealing hydrophobic and hydrophilic distributions.
• Structure–function analysis: Supports investigations into how amphipathic character contributes to protein interactions with other biomolecules.

Methodology:

Implemented in C using the EMBOSS C programming library and developed according to the EMBOSS Developer's Guide; configurable via Application Configuration Definition (ACD) files.