SMART

SMART (a Simple Modular Architecture Research Tool) allows the identification and annotation of genetically mobile domains and the analysis of domain architectures. More than 500 domain families found in signalling, extracellular and chromatin-associated proteins are detectable. These domains are extensively annotated with respect to phyletic distributions, functional class, tertiary structures and functionally important residues. Each domain found in a non-redundant protein database as well as search parameters and taxonomic information are stored in a relational database system. User interfaces to this database allow searches for proteins containing specific combinations of domains in defined taxa

You may use either a Uniprot Ensembl sequence identifier (ID) / accession number (ACC) or the protein sequence itself to perform the SMART analysis service.

Using the accession number or the name of a known protein domain, SMART will allow you to search a particular domain, and give you a detailed description of this domain, along with a diagram showing the results of the significant domains.

The left hand box contains domains that are illustrated in the figure containing information of the name of the domains found followed by their start and end amino acids as well as their E value. The right hand box contains domains not illustrated in the figure but in addition to their name, amino acid start/end, E value, it has a reason for why it is not in the figure above.

Here is a link to the homepage of the site:http://smart.embl-heidelberg.de/

More information about the site, and further literature relating to its use can be found here: http://smart.embl-heidelberg.de/help/smart_about.shtml

NB: This online tool is extremely useful (and expected to be used) when completing the bioinformatics module in stage 2 (CMB2005)