Artificial neural networks for prediction of mycobacterial promoter sequences

A multilayered feed-forward ANN architecture trained using the error-back-propagation (EBP) algorithm has been developed for predicting whether a given nucleotide sequence is a mycobacterial promoter sequence. Owing to the high prediction capability ( congruent with 97%) of the developed network model, it has been further used in conjunction with the caliper randomization (CR) approach for determining the structurally/functionally important regions in the promoter sequences. The results obtained thereby indicate that: (i) upstream region of -35 box, (ii) -35 region, (iii) spacer region and, (iv) -10 box, are important for mycobacterial promoters. The CR approach also suggests that the -38 to -29 region plays a significant role in determining whether a given sequence is a mycobacterial promoter. In essence, the present study establishes ANNs as a tool for predicting mycobacterial promoter sequences and determining structurally/functionally important sub-regions therein.