A method for detecting centres of natural selection in protein structures: potential for predicting the location of...

A simple method has been developed to detect protein microenvironments which are likely to be the focus of natural selection, and thereby important for function. It relies on distinguishing between the probability of an amino acid type arising by genetic mutation and the probability that it will be chosen by natural selection. When applied to proteins of known tertiary structure, the method revealed that major differences exist in the balance between neutral and selected change, and also that functional sites can be highlighted.