Is there a program that can be used to compile a list of the frequencies
of individual amino acids at the N-terminus of mature proteins in the
database?
I am working on a cytokine with a proline at the N-terminus. This
protein has structural (but not sequence) homology to 2 microbial
enzymes that use a proline at the N-terminus as a catalytic base. There
are many similarities in the local environment of the proline between
the cytokine and the 2 microbial enzymes, and I am now investigating the
possibility that this cytokine has catalytic activity. Toward that end,
I am interested in determining the frequency of proline (relative to
other amino acids) to be present at the amino terminus. Does anyone
know of a program that can do this or whether such a list has been
compiled? It will be important for the program to distinguish between
entire polypeptides and mature, processed forms of proteins. Thanks.
Elias Lolis
lolis at eliris.med.yale.edu
