Finding regularity in various types of secondary protein structures

Abstract

Protein function is structurally determined, but analyzing the structure of a protein is both difficult and time-consuming. The authors look at the natural instincts of protein secondary structures, which used to be analyzed in terms of their statistical relationship with a single amino acid. Several schemas are offered for identifying regular patterns among various types of secondary protein structures. The schemas employ genetic algorithms based on a steady-state strategy. Two disjunctive data sets were used to verify fitness. The paper concludes with some illustrations of significant schemas produced as part of this study, with brief explanations of their significance.