Introduction to Protein Structure Prediction

A look at the methods and algorithms used to predict proteinstructure A thorough knowledge of the function and structure of proteinsis critical for the advancement of biology and the life sciences aswell as the development of better drugs, higher-yield crops, andeven synthetic bio-fuels. To that end, this reference sheds lighton the methods used for protein structure prediction and revealsthe key applications of modeled structures. This indispensable bookcovers the applications of modeled protein structures and unravelsthe relationship between pure sequence information andthree-dimensional structure, which continues to be one of thegreatest challenges in molecular biology. With this resource, readers will find an all-encompassingexamination of the problems, methods, tools, servers, databases,and applications of protein structure prediction and they willacquire unique insight into the future applications of the modeledprotein structures. The book begins with a thorough introduction tothe protein structure prediction problem and is divided into fourthemes: a background on structure prediction, the prediction ofstructural elements, tertiary structure prediction, and functionalinsights. Within those four sections, the following topics arecovered: * Databases and resources that are commonly used for proteinstructure prediction * The structure prediction flagship assessment (CASP) and theprotein structure initiative (PSI) * Definitions of recurring substructures and the computationalapproaches used for solving sequence problems * Difficulties with contact map prediction and how sophisticatedmachine learning methods can solve those problems * Structure prediction methods that rely on homology modeling,threading, and fragment assembly * Hybrid methods that achieve high-resolution proteinstructures * Parts of the protein structure that may be conserved and usedto interact with other biomolecules * How the loop prediction problem can be used for refinement ofthe modeled structures * The computational model that detects the differences betweenprotein structure and its modeled mutant Whether working in the field of bioinformatics or molecularbiology research or taking courses in protein modeling, readerswill find the content in this book invaluable.