Two-dimensional abstract representations (signatures) of proteins

Algorithms have been developed to allow two-dimensional abstractrepresentations of proteins based on: (i) a non-redundant subsetof codons, (ii) hydropathy values of amino acids, (iii) thepolarities of the amino acid residues and (iv) predicted secondarystructures. In addition the suggestion of Gates on nucleic acidrepresentation was implemented. The two-dimensional projections(signatures) that are obtained have the merit that several plotscan be represented simultaneously for ready visualization. Theapproach appears useful in showing relationships among groupsof proteins. Received on September 22, 1986; accepted on November 25, 1986