Proteins as discrete structures

The three-dimensional structure of a protein is usually described either by a list of atomic coordinates, or by a sequence of local (Phi,Psi) dihedral angles that specify the conformation of the main chain. It is awkward and computationally expensive to perform searches and structural comparisons with these representations because they are continuous measures, while digital computers are highly optimized to manipulate trees, strings and other discrete structures.

Mantic Biotech, in collaboration with researchers at the University of Virginia and Stockholm University, has developed proprietary technology and software to accurately represent and model protein conformations as discrete structures. This allows us to search, compare and retrieve structures across the entire Protein Data Bank at interactive speeds on an ordinary personal computer, and to identify amino acid signatures that are characteristic of specific local protein conformations. Our technology has application in structure comparison; protein design and optimization; predicting structure from the amino acid sequence; and evaluating predicted structures.

Research results have been submitted for publication, and software has been installed at the University of Virginia, Stockholm University, and the Center for Computational Biology (University of Colorado, Denver). 

Please contact Dr. Roger Ison at the address below for additional information on a confidential basis.

Contact information

E-mail	webmaster (at) manticbiotech.com ab.initio (at) manticbiotech.com
Snail-mail	Roger Ison Mantic Software Corporation 5918 Jordan Drive Loveland CO 80537 USA
Tel.	970-669-3599
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