title: On distance and similarity in fold space.
abstract: Metric information on similarities and distances in fold space is essential for quantitative work in structural bioinformatics and structural biology. Here we derive a suitable metric for protein structures from the fundamental axioms of similarity. Derivation of the metric also clarifies the relationship between the interrelated concepts of distance and similarity.
authors.affiliation: Center of Applied Molecular Engineering, Division of Bioinformatics, Department of Molecular Biology, University of Salzburg, Hellbrunnerstr. 34, 5020 Salzburg, Austria. sippl@came.sbg.ac.at
authors.forename: Manfred J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Sippl
mesh_terms: D000465:Algorithms; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D003198:Computer Simulation; D030562:Databases, Protein; D016247:Information Storage and Retrieval / Q000379:methods; D008956:Models, Chemical; D008958:Models, Molecular; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D017510:Protein Folding; D011506:Proteins / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D016415:Sequence Alignment / Q000379:methods*; D020539:Sequence Analysis, Protein / Q000379:methods*; D012984:Software; D014584:User-Computer Interface
chemical_list: D011506:Proteins