Protein–Protein Interaction Interfaces and their Functional Implications
Gideon Schreiber
Abstract
Proteins must work together with other proteins to carry out most of their functions in the cell. In the complex biological environment, any correct interaction competes with a huge number of non-relevant macromolecular surfaces. In this chapter, I review the current knowledge on how the binding process occurs, what distinguishes correct binding from the endless numbers of available protein-surfaces and the contributing factors towards uniqueness of the binding interface, and put these into perspective with the different types of protein–protein interactions found in nature. While the gained knowledge provides only averages, it is sufficiently good for the design of new protein–protein interactions, which has become more successful in recent years.