Highly similar structural frames link the template tunnel and NTP entry tunnel to the exterior surface in RNA-dependent RNA polymerases

Lang, Dorothy M.; Zemla, A. T.; Zhou, C. L. Ecale

The StralSV algorithm simultaneously, rapidly and quantitatively identifies the similarities and differences of the structural components of multiple species and provides an output that facilitates the comparison of three-dimensional structure information. StralSV enabled us to cluster protein segments that have the same tertiary structure, independent of sequence variability. In a sense, it is an analog of Blast, although based on structure rather than sequence. The precision of StralSV makes it easy to identify small differences between and within species. The ability to process multiple species at the same time can rapidly accelerate our understanding of differences between them. The identified structural associations may also facilitate the transfer of structure-related functional information among proteins.