A K for and nowledge - based architecture protein sequence analysis structure prediction

Methods for analyzing the qmino-acid sequenc'e of a protein for the purposes of predicting its three-dimensional structure were systematically analyzed using knowledge engineering techniques. The resulting entities (data) and relations (processing methods and constraints) have been represented within a generalized dependency network consisting of 29 nodes and over 100 links. It is argued that such a representstion meets the requirements of knowledge-based systems in molecular biology. This network is used as the architecture for a prototype knowledge-based system that simulates logically the processes used in protein structure p r e diction. Althou gh dev e l op e d sp e c ific al ly fo r ap p l i c at i on s in protein structure prediction, the network architecture provides a strategy for tackling, the general problem of orchestrating and integrating the diverse sources ofknowledge that are characteristic of many areas of science.