3-dimensional structure superposition (3SSP)

Introduction.

The 3SSP (3-dimensional Superposition of Proteins) menu has many things in common with the MOTIV option in the SUPPOS menu. The basic ideas behind 3SSP are described in an article of which you will find a (figureless) copy at the end of this chapter. In short, with MAK3SP you will run the MOTIV option from the SUPPOS menu automatically against all proteins in the database. This creates a so-called 3SSP file. All other options in the 3SSP menu are involved in the evaluation of these files.

Create a 3SSP file (MAK3SP)

The command MAK3SP can be used to create a so-called 3SSP file. See one of the appendices for an example of a 3SSP file. WHAT IF expects that you have exactly one (protein) molecule in the soup upon execution of MAK3SP. If the soup is empty, you will be prompted for the number of a database file.

The 3SSP file will get the name MAK.3SSP, unless the soup was empty when you gave the MAK3SP command, in which case the 3SSP file will be called ****.3SSP, in which **** stands for the name of the database protein.

You better run this option as a BATCH job, since it can take up to ten hours of CPU on a micro VAX.

Summary of 3SSP file (SUM3SP)

The 3SSP file holds all final results, including all negative results, and all alignments. With the SUM3SP command you can reduce this to the bare minimal list of found significant homologies. You will be prompted for the name of the 3SSP file.

Remove bad hits (FILTER)

The 3SSP file holds all final results, including all poor and insignificant results. With the FILTER command you can reduce this to the bare minimal list of found significant homologies. You will be prompted for the name of the 3SSP file. A new 3SSP file will be written out.

Use original dssp values (ORGDSP)

The command ORGDSP will cause that the internal secondary structure tables are overwritten with the original DSSP assignments. WHAT IF normally only uses S, T, H, 3, and blank for coil. DSSP has a different nomenclature.

Graphical evaluation of 3SSP file

There are several ways to graphically evaluate the 3SSP results. You can display superposed fragments only or whole alpha carbon traces of the molecules looked at, and you can put these results all together in a MOL-item, or put them in the movie.

The combination of these possibilities leads to a large set of options. It is hard to describe what is best or clearest. Just try a couple...

Graphical evaluation of 3SSP file (GRA3SP)

The command GRA3SP will cause WHAT IF to prompt you for the name of a 3SSP file. WHAT IF will then extract all aligned fragments from this file and puts them, superimposed on the mother molecule, in RIDGE. The lower right dial of the dial box can now be used to dial through the individual hits. The LED connected to this dial will show the number of the hit. GRA3SP only shows the homologous fragments. GRW3SP shows the whole molecules.

Graphical evaluation of 3SSP file (GRL3SP)

The command GRL3SP will cause WHAT IF to prompt you for the name of a 3SSP file. WHAT IF will then extract all aligned fragments from this file and puts them, superimposed on the mother molecule, in a mol-item. GRL3SP only shows the homologous fragments. GRM3SP shows the whole molecules.

Graphical evaluation of 3SSP file (GRM3SP)

The command GRM3SP will cause WHAT IF to prompt you for the name of a 3SSP file. WHAT IF will then extract all molecules that show significant homology from this file and puts them, superimposed on the mother molecule, in a mol-item. GRL3SP only shows the homologous fragments. GRM3SP shows the whole molecules.

Graphical evaluation of 3SSP file (GRW3SP)

The command GRW3SP will cause WHAT IF to prompt you for the name of a 3SSP file. WHAT IF will then extract all molecules that show significant homology from this file and puts them, superimposed on the mother molecule, in the movie. The lower right dial of the dial box can now be used to dial through the individual hits. The LED connected to this dial will show the number of the hit. GRA3SP only shows the homologous fragments. GRW3SP shows the whole molecules.

Graphical evaluation of 3SSP file (GRD3SP)

The command GRD3SP will cause WHAT IF to prompt you for the name of a 3SSP file. WHAT IF will then extract one molecule of your choice from this file and puts it, superimposed on the mother molecule, in a MOL-item.

Graphical evaluation of 3SSP file (GRI3SP)

The command GRI3SP will cause WHAT IF to prompt you for the name of a 3SSP file. WHAT IF will then extract all molecules that show significant homology from this file and puts them, superimposed on the mother molecule, in the movie. In this movie you get interleaved the fragments that superpose well and the full superposed molecules.

Graphical evaluation of a 3SSP file hit (GRF3SP)

The command GRF3SP is not yet ready.

Parameters (PARAMS)

The parameters used by 3SSP and the SUPPOS menu are identical. See the parameter paragraph in the SUPPOS chapter.

Activating more commands (MORE)

Not all commands are immediately active in the 3SSP menu. By typing MORE, more commands will be activated.