B. Tallur et al., Sequence classification of water channels and related proteins in view of functional predictions, THEOR CH AC, 101(1-3), 1999, pp. 77-81
We have worked with a classification method based upon a notion of probabil
istic similarity or "likelihood of similarity" between aligned sequences. O
ne important parameter, among others, affecting the sequence similarities a
nd hence the classification results is the amino acid similarity matrix. We
present a method for choosing the most adapted matrix to classify protein
sequences. This method has been applied to the transmembrane channels of th
e major intrinsic protein (MIP) family. At present, two functional subgroup
s have been well characterized in this family: (1) specific water transport
by the aquaporins and (2) small neutral solutes transport. The aim of the
present study is to show the usefulness of the classification method in the
prediction of sequence segments important for substrate selectivity. Moreo
ver, we show that this method can also be used to predict the function of u
ndetermined MIP proteins. The method could be applied to other protein fami
lies as well.