Towards an accurate prediction of the thermal stability of homologous proteins

The complexity of this issue is rooted in the fact that the mechanisms ensuring thermal resistance are not unique and specific, but rather family- or even protein-dependent. Therefore, and despite the amount of research already accomplished, obtaining fast and precise thermal stability predictions is still a challenge, especially on a large scale.

This article deepens the study of protein thermal stability and is focused on the prediction of its best descriptor, the melting temperature T m . The relations between T m and a series of factors that are expected to influence the protein stability are analyzed and discussed. Different T m -prediction methods that utilize these factors, sometimes with additional information about homologous proteins, are introduced, and their individual performances are evaluated.