Protein structure: geometry, topology and classification

The structural principals of proteins are reviewed and analysed from a geom etric perspective with a view to revealing the underlying regularities in t heir construction. Computer methods For the automatic comparison and classi fication of these structures are then reviewed with an analysis of the stat istical significance of comparing different shapes. Following an analysis o f the current state of the classification of proteins, more abstract geomet ric and topological representations are explored, including the occurrence of knotted topologies. The review concludes with a consideration of the ori gin of higher-level symmetries in protein structure.