Structural and functional insights into Mimivirus ORFans
2007
Understanding Mimivirus ORFans
Sample size: 21
publication
Evidence: moderate
Author Information
Author(s): Harpreet Kaur Saini, Daniel Fischer
Primary Institution: University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, USA
Hypothesis
Can we assign structures and functions to the uncharacterized proteins (ORFans) in the Mimivirus genome?
Conclusion
We successfully predicted 3D structures for 21 Mimivirus ORFans and derived functional attributes for 6 of them.
Supporting Evidence
- 21 ORFans were structurally predicted using fold recognition methods.
- 6 ORFans were functionally characterized based on structural predictions.
- 4 ORFans were predicted to be enzymes involved in various biological processes.
Takeaway
Scientists studied a giant virus called Mimivirus and figured out the shapes and some jobs of some of its unknown proteins.
Methodology
Fold recognition methods were used to predict the structures of Mimivirus ORFans.
Limitations
Specific functions could not be assigned to 10 of the structural predictions.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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