Question

Which of the following is false in case of the database InterPro and its algorithm?

(a) InterPro is an integrated pattern database designed to unify multiple databases for protein domains and functional sites

(b) This database integrates information from PROSITE, Pfam, PRINTS, ProDom, and SMART databases

(c) Only overlapping motifs and domains in a protein sequence derived by all five databases are included

(d) All the motifs and domains in a protein sequence derived by all five databases are included

I have been asked this question in an interview for internship.

My query is from Motif and Domain Databases Using Statistical Models topic in section Sequence Alignment of Bioinformatics

Answer 1

The correct answer is:

(d) All the motifs and domains in a protein sequence derived by all five databases are included

This statement is false because InterPro does not include all motifs and domains from the databases it integrates. Only the non-overlapping motifs and domains are included after consolidation from various sources like PROSITE, Pfam, PRINTS, ProDom, and SMART. InterPro aims to eliminate redundancy by merging the results, and only unique or distinct motifs/domains are included. Overlapping motifs are excluded to maintain the uniqueness of the entries.