Predicting Actin Interfaces from Genomic Data

Short Abstract — Actin is one of the most abundant proteins found in eukaryotic cells. It plays a crucial role in cell motility, division, and forms the cytoskeleton. The actin filament is a helical polymer and its crystal structure has yet to be solved. Low resolution atomic-models of the filament, constructed using crystallographic data and known G-actin crystal structure, provide useful, but limited, clues as to the interactions involved in filament formation and regulation. Current statistical modeling tools can predict residue pair coevolution from genomic information. Here, we utilize both structural and genomic data to elucidate the functional interactions of actin.