Muthukumaran Sivashanmugam, Anusha Kuppuswamy , Umashankar Vetrivel , K.N. Sulochana
Human iron binding proteins play a crucial role in various cellular activities. Cellular iron imbalance can lead to many disease conditions. A comprehensive understanding of iron binding patterns in proteins is necessary to develop proper therapeutic interventions. By this study, we have collated the present classification strategies adopted in classifying the iron binding proteins. Additionally, we have also identified five novel iron binding patterns inferred and validated through bioinformatics studies. The outcome of this study will greatly help in database development for human iron binding proteins and also aid in prediction of iron binding signatures in uncharacterized proteins. Moreover, the identified iron binding patterns will also pave way for the design of iron sequestering peptides which shall be utilized as modulators in diseases arising due to iron imbalance.
Key words : Iron, iron binding proteins, phylogenetic analysis, iron binding pattern, peptide therapy.