Bioinformatics 3

Question 1

What are sequence fingerprints?

Answer 1

Fingerprints refer to a collection of motifs that occur in a specific order
InterPro is a tool that brings patterns, profiles and fingerprints from a number of different databases together into a single searchable resource

Question 2

How can you find signal sequences?

Answer 2

TargetP - tool that predicts the cellular location of proteins based on the presence of signal sequences
SignalP - signal peptides are short sequences that direct proteins for secretion outside the cell

Question 3

Define sequence motifs;

Answer 3

Short, conserved regions of amino acid ( or DNA) sequences that are important structurally or functionally

Question 4

Define sequence patterns;

Answer 4

Describe a motif using a qualitative consensus sequence

Question 5

Define sequence profile

Answer 5

Describe motifs using quantitative information captured in a position specific scoring matrix

Question 6

Define sequence signals

Answer 6

Deliver proteins to specific sites within or outside the cell

Question 7

Define sequence features

Answer 7

Sequence features are small groups of amino acids that confer some biochemical property upon a protein

Question 8

Describe examples of sequence features;

Answer 8

Active sites - catalytic residue of enzymes
Binding sites - residues that directly bind molecules or ions
Post translational modification sites - chemically modified residues

Question 9

What are protein domains?

Answer 9

Domains are distinct functional and/or structural units in a protein

Question 10

What is a protein family?

Answer 10

Group of proteins that share common evolutionary origin, reflected by their related functions and similarities in sequence or structure