title: Identification of functional candidates amongst hypothetical proteins of Treponema pallidum ssp. pallidum.
abstract: Syphilis is a globally occurring venereal disease, and its infection is propagated through sexual contact. The causative agent of syphilis, Treponema pallidum ssp. pallidum, a Gram-negative sphirochaete, is an obligate human parasite. Genome of T. pallidum ssp. pallidum SS14 strain (RefSeq NC_010741.1) encodes 1,027 proteins, of which 444 proteins are known as hypothetical proteins (HPs), i.e., proteins of unknown functions. Here, we performed functional annotation of HPs of T. pallidum ssp. pallidum using various database, domain architecture predictors, protein function annotators and clustering tools. We have analyzed the sequences of 444 HPs of T. pallidum ssp. pallidum and subsequently predicted the function of 207 HPs with a high level of confidence. However, functions of 237 HPs are predicted with less accuracy. We found various enzymes, transporters, binding proteins in the annotated group of HPs that may be possible molecular targets, facilitating for the survival of pathogen. Our comprehensive analysis helps to understand the mechanism of pathogenesis to provide many novel potential therapeutic interventions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Computer Science, Jamia Millia Islamia, Jamia Nagar, New Delhi-110025, India.
authors.forename: Ahmad Abu Turab
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Naqvi
authors.affiliation: Department of Computer Science, Jamia Millia Islamia, Jamia Nagar, New Delhi-110025, India.
authors.forename: Mohd
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Shahbaaz
authors.affiliation: Center for Interdisciplinary Research in Basic Sciences, Jamia Millia Islamia, Jamia Nagar, New Delhi-110025, India.
authors.forename: Faizan
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ahmad
authors.affiliation: Center for Interdisciplinary Research in Basic Sciences, Jamia Millia Islamia, Jamia Nagar, New Delhi-110025, India.
authors.forename: Md Imtaiyaz
authors.initials: MI
authors.lastname: Hassan
mesh_terms: D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D016680:Genome, Bacterial; D006801:Humans; D054730:Protein Interaction Domains and Motifs; D013587:Syphilis / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000382:microbiology; D014210:Treponema pallidum / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism*; D037521:Virulence Factors / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D037521:Virulence Factors