THGS: a web-based database of Transmembrane Helices in Genome Sequences
S A Fernando1, P Selvarani, Soma Das
1Bioinformatics Centre, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore 560 012, India.
Nucleic Acids Research
|December 19, 2003
Summary
The Transmembrane Helices in Genome Sequences (THGS) database identifies transmembrane helices in gene sequences. It allows motif searching across multiple protein and structure databases, aiding in biological research.
Area of Science:
- Bioinformatics
- Structural Biology
- Genomics
Background:
- Transmembrane proteins play crucial roles in cellular functions.
- Identifying transmembrane helices is essential for understanding protein structure and function.
- Existing databases may lack comprehensive tools for searching and visualizing these elements.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop an interactive web-based database for identifying transmembrane helices in gene sequences.
- To provide tools for searching sequence motifs within transmembrane and globular proteins.
- To enable visualization of 3D protein structures for queried motifs.
Main Methods:
- Development of the Transmembrane Helices in Genome Sequences (THGS) database.
- Integration with Genome Database (GDB), Swiss-Prot, PIR, and Protein Data Bank (PDB).
- Utilization of RASMOL for 3D structure visualization.
Main Results:
- The THGS database enables searching for transmembrane helices in user-specified gene sequences.
- Motif searching is supported across multiple sequence and structural databases.
- Users can visualize 3D structures of identified motifs if available in PDB.
Conclusions:
- THGS offers a valuable, up-to-date resource for researchers studying transmembrane proteins.
- The database facilitates the exploration of sequence motifs and their structural correlates.
- Free web accessibility enhances its utility in bioinformatics and structural biology research.
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