Memoir: template-based structure prediction for membrane proteins.

Membrane proteins are estimated to be the targets of 50% of drugs that are currently in development, yet we have few membrane protein crystal structures. As a result, for a membrane protein of interest, the much-needed structural information usually comes from a homology model. Current homology modelling software is optimized for globular proteins, and ignores the constraints that the membrane is known to place on protein structure.

MP-T: improving membrane protein alignment for structure prediction.

Motivation: Membrane proteins are clinically relevant, yet their crystal structures are rare. Models of membrane proteins are typically built from template structures with low sequence identity to the target sequence, using a sequence-structure alignment as a blueprint. This alignment is usually made with programs designed for use on soluble proteins.

Environment specific substitution tables improve membrane protein alignment.

Motivation: Membrane proteins are both abundant and important in cells, but the small number of solved structures restricts our understanding of them. Here we consider whether membrane proteins undergo different substitutions from their soluble counterparts and whether these can be used to improve membrane protein alignments, and therefore improve prediction of their structure.

Results: We construct substitution tables for different environments within membrane proteins.