Title: Functional annotation of putative conserved proteins from Borrelia burgdorferi to find potential drug targets

Authors: Shama Khan; Mohammad Sarwar Jamal; Farah Anjum; Mahmood Rasool; Abulaish Ansari; Asimul Islam; Faizan Ahmad; Md. Imtaiyaz Hassan

Addresses: Center for Interdisciplinary Research in Basic Sciences, Jamia Millia Islamia, Jamia Nagar, New Delhi, 110025, India ' King Fahd Medical Research Center, King Abdulaziz University, P.O. Box 21589, Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia ' Female College of Applied Medical Science, Taif University, Al-Taif, 21944, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia ' Center of Excellence in Genomic Medicine Research, King Abdulaziz University, P.O. Box 80216, Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia ' Dept. of Biochemistry, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Northern Border University, Arar, 91431, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia ' Center for Interdisciplinary Research in Basic Sciences, Jamia Millia Islamia, Jamia Nagar, New Delhi, 110025, India ' Center for Interdisciplinary Research in Basic Sciences, Jamia Millia Islamia, Jamia Nagar, New Delhi, 110025, India ' Center for Interdisciplinary Research in Basic Sciences, Jamia Millia Islamia, Jamia Nagar, New Delhi, 110025, India

Abstract: The spirochete Borrelia burgdorferi is causative agent of Lyme disease. We have used various bioinformatics tools for predicting the function of unknown proteins present in B. burgdorferi's genome. While analysing the proteome data of B. burgdorferi, we have found 819 proteins. Out of these, 241 proteins are conserved hypothetical proteins (HPs), i.e., proteins of unspecified structures and biochemical functions. We have successfully annotated 120 HPs, and their corresponding functions have been predicted using different tools. On the basis of predicted functions, we have divided them into functional classes. Annotation and identification of functionally important regions in HPs from B. burgdorferi will enhance our understanding of new functional proteins, virulence mechanism and adaptability in host system.

Keywords: Borrelia burgdorferi; functional genomics; hypothetical proteins; Lyme disease; virulence factor; functional annotation; putative conserved proteins; potential drug targets; bioinformatics.

DOI: 10.1504/IJCBDD.2016.080099

International Journal of Computational Biology and Drug Design, 2016 Vol.9 No.4, pp.295 - 318

Received: 24 Aug 2015
Accepted: 24 Dec 2015
Published online: 02 Nov 2016 *

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