Development of a software tool for the analysis and visualization of protein-protein interactions

Introduction The determination and visualization of molecular interfaces between proteins is of special importance for understanding biological processes and diseases at a molecular level. Examples are the analysis of immune complexes, complexes of growing factors and receptors and especially the tumour necrosis factor – receptor complex. Such interactions are of special importance in modern diagnosis and therapy e.g. in the case of infectious diseases, disturbed metabolic situations, incompatibilities in pharmacology etc. The complexity of the protein-protein interface makes it necessary to choose simple representations, allowing the investigator to concentrate on the specific features of interest without being confused by th