Dataset Information

PLM-BLAST: distant homology detection based on direct comparison of sequence representations from protein language models.

ABSTRACT:

Motivation

The detection of homology through sequence comparison is a typical first step in the study of protein function and evolution. In this work, we explore the applicability of protein language models to this task.

Results

We introduce pLM-BLAST, a tool inspired by BLAST, that detects distant homology by comparing single-sequence representations (embeddings) derived from a protein language model, ProtT5. Our benchmarks reveal that pLM-BLAST maintains a level of accuracy on par with HHsearch for both highly similar sequences (with >50% identity) and markedly divergent sequences (with <30% identity), while being significantly faster. Additionally, pLM-BLAST stands out among other embedding-based tools due to its ability to compute local alignments. We show that these local alignments, produced by pLM-BLAST, often connect highly divergent proteins, thereby highlighting its potential to uncover previously undiscovered homologous relationships and improve protein annotation.

Availability and implementation

pLM-BLAST is accessible via the MPI Bioinformatics Toolkit as a web server for searching precomputed databases (https://toolkit.tuebingen.mpg.de/tools/plmblast). It is also available as a standalone tool for building custom databases and performing batch searches (https://github.com/labstructbioinf/pLM-BLAST).

SUBMITTER: Kaminski K

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10576641 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Publications

pLM-BLAST: distant homology detection based on direct comparison of sequence representations from protein language models.

Kaminski Kamil K Ludwiczak Jan J Pawlicki Kamil K Alva Vikram V Dunin-Horkawicz Stanislaw S

Bioinformatics (Oxford, England) 20231001 10

<h4>Motivation</h4>The detection of homology through sequence comparison is a typical first step in the study of protein function and evolution. In this work, we explore the applicability of protein language models to this task.<h4>Results</h4>We introduce pLM-BLAST, a tool inspired by BLAST, that detects distant homology by comparing single-sequence representations (embeddings) derived from a protein language model, ProtT5. Our benchmarks reveal that pLM-BLAST maintains a level of accuracy on p ...[more]

PMID: 37725369

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