Introduction:
CATH stands for the Class, Architecture, Topology/fold, Homology Protein Structure Classification Database.
It's a bit of a mouthful, but it basically helps scientists understand how different proteins are built and how they might be related.
Let’s understand this in very simple Language:
Imagine proteins as intricate Lego structures.
CATH helps classify these structures based on their building blocks and how they're put together.
Here's a breakdown of what CATH looks at:
Class (C): This is like the basic material of the Legos - all alpha helices, all beta sheets, a mix of both, or hardly any.
Architecture (A): Here, they consider how these basic pieces are arranged in 3D space, like a long strand or a fold-y sheet.
Topology/fold (T): This gets more detailed, looking at how the individual pieces connect and fold into more complex shapes.
Homology (H): Finally, CATH checks if these similarly built structures are likely from the same "Lego ancestor" - meaning they share an evolutionary connection.
By looking at all these levels, CATH helps scientists group proteins with similar structures and potentially similar functions.
This is useful for understanding how proteins work and how they might have evolved over time.
Here are some resources you can explore to learn more (without any links!):
The CATH Protein Structure Classification Database website: CATH at UCL
CATH on Wikipedia: [WIKI CATH database]