Predicting the structure of protein-protein complexes using the SwarmDock Web Server

Methods Mol Biol. 2014:1137:181-97. doi: 10.1007/978-1-4939-0366-5_13.

Abstract

Protein-protein interactions drive many of the biological functions of the cell. Any two proteins have the potential to interact; however, whether the interactions are of biological significance is dependent on a number of complicated factors. Thus, modelling the three-dimensional structure of protein-protein complexes is still considered to be a complex endeavor. Nevertheless, many experimentalists now wish to boost their knowledge of protein-protein interactions, well beyond complexes resolved experimentally, and for them to be able to do so it is important they are able to effectively and confidently predict protein-protein interactions. The main aim of this chapter is to acquaint the reader, particularly one from a non-computational background, how to use a state-of-the-art protein docking tool. In particular, we describe here the SwarmDock Server (SDS), a web service for the flexible modelling of protein-protein complexes; this server is freely available at: http://bmm.cancerresearchuk.org/~SwarmDock/. Supplementary files for Case Studies are provided with the chapter and available at extras.springer.com.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Models, Molecular
  • Molecular Docking Simulation*
  • Multiprotein Complexes / chemistry*
  • Protein Binding
  • Protein Conformation*
  • Proteins / chemistry*
  • Software*
  • Web Browser*

Substances

  • Multiprotein Complexes
  • Proteins