Hydrophobic complementarity in protein-protein docking

Formation of hydrophobic contacts across a newly formed interface is energetically favorable. Based on this observation we developed a geometric-hydrophobic docking algorithm that estimates quantitatively the hydrophobic complementarity at protein-protein interfaces. Each molecule to be docked is represented as a grid of complex numbers, storing information regarding the shape of the molecule in the real part and information regarding the hydropathy of the surface in the imaginary part. The grid representations are correlated using fast Fourier transformations. The algorithm is used to compare the extent of hydrophobic complementarity in oligomers (represented by D2 tetramers) and in hetero-dimers of soluble proteins (complexes). We also test the implication of hydrophobic complementarity in distinguishing correct from false docking solutions. We find that hydrophobic complementarity at the interface exists in oligomers and in complexes, and in both groups the extent of such complementarity depends on the size of the interface. Thus, the non-polar portions of large interfaces are more often juxtaposed than non-polar portions of small interfaces. Next we find that hydrophobic complementarity helps to point out correct docking solutions. In oligomers it significantly improves the ranks of nearly correct reassembled and modeled tetramers. Combining geometric, electrostatic and hydrophobic complementarity for complexes gives excellent results, ranking a nearly correct solution < 10 for 5 of 23 tested systems, < 100 for 8 systems and < 1000 for 19 systems.