BBSRC-NSF/BIO: An AI-based domain classification platform for 200 million 3D-models of proteins to reveal protein evolution

Proteins play a major role in most important processes in life, such as the digestion of nutrients, immune response, and cellular regulation. They are comprised of long polymers that fold into compact globular forms known as domains. Most proteins have at least two domains and some are composed of dozens. Domains tend to be associated with specific functions, although sometimes an important function will result from combining multiple domains. 3D structure data and models are particularly valuable for detecting the pockets and surface features linked to domain function. Determining the structure and orientations of the constituent domains is important for understanding the overall function of the protein and the dynamic conformational changes linked to that.

Until recently, structural data for proteins was very sparse, with