Protein Identification and Analysis Tools in the ExPASy Server

Protein identification and analysis software performs a central role in the investigation of proteins from two-dimensional (2-D) gels. For protein identification, the user matches certain empirically gained information against a protein database to define a protein as already known or as novel. For protein analysis, information in protein databases can be used to predict certain properties about a protein, which can be useful for its empirical investigation. The two processes are thus complementary. Although there are numerable programs available for the above-mentioned applications, we have developed a set of original tools with a few main goals in mind. Specifically, these are:

1.	To utilize the extensive annotation available in the SWISS-PROT database (1 ) wherever possible.
2.	To have tools specifically, but not exclusively, applicable to proteins prepared by 2-D gel electrophoresis.
3.	To have all tools available on the World Wide Web and freely available to the scientific community.