2-D Graphical representation of proteins based on virtual genetic code

Abstract

We consider a novel 2-D graphical representation of proteins in which individual nucleic acids are represented as “spots” within a square frame distributed according to specific construction rules. The resulting “images” of proteins can not only serve to facilitate visual comparison of similarities and dissimilarities between lengthy protein sequences, but also offer a way for mathematical characterization of protein sequences, analogous to similar considerations for lengthy DNA sequences. Basically the approach is based on the concept of virtual genetic code, which is a hypothetical string of RNA nucleic acid bases, A, C, U and G, which generates reported protein sequences, without the knowledge of the actual genetic code that produces the protein.

Keywords:

• 2-D maps
• Virtual genetic code
• Graphical representation
• Protein map
• DNA map

Notes

*Permanent address: (a) 3225 Kingman Road, Ames, IA 50014, USA. (b) Professor Emeritus, Department of Mathematics and Computer Science, Drake University, Des Moines, Iowa, USA.