title: Protein-protein interaction networks: how can a hub protein bind so many different partners?
abstract: How can a single hub protein bind so many different partners? Numerous studies have sought differences between hubs and non-hubs to explain what makes a protein a hub and how a shared hub-binding site can be promiscuous, yet at the same time be specific. Here, we suggest that the problem is largely non-existent and resides in the popular representation of protein interaction networks: protein products derived from a single gene, even if different, are clustered in maps into a single node. This leads to the impression that a single protein binds to a very large number of partners. In reality, it does not; rather, protein networks reflect the combination of multiple proteins, each with a distinct conformation.
authors.affiliation: Center for Cancer Research Nanobiology Program, SAIC-Frederick, Inc., NCI-Frederick, Frederick, MD 21702, USA.
authors.forename: Chung-Jung
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Tsai
authors.forename: Buyong
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.forename: Ruth
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Nussinov
mesh_terms: D008954:Models, Biological; D011485:Protein Binding / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D011506:Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D011506:Proteins