This website was constructed as a class project for Genetics 564, an undergraduate Genetics course at UW-Madison.
What is a protein interaction network?
A protein interaction network visually summarizes all the cellular proteins your protein of interest interacts with. Each line represents an interaction [1]. One tool that can be used for creating protein interaction networks is the STRING Database. STRING is a database that has compiled all published information on known and predicted protein-protein interactions. It uses this information to create interactive maps of these interactions [2].
Aldolase B protein interaction networks
Across several homologs, the aldolase B protein is predicted to interact with several proteins. In Drosophila, several of these interactions have experimental evidence, making this model organism a strong choice for further study of aldolase B. In general, all of the homologs featured on this site shared a predicted interaction with the same glycolytic interactions. What is interesting, however, is that in all vertebrates but chimpanzees the Khk protein (circled below in red) is present, whereas it is not in invertebrates. Khk (ketohexokinase) is responsible for converting fructose into fructose-1-phosphate, the first step in fructose metabolism [3]. It seems odd that this protein would not interact with aldolase B as it does in most vertebrates, given that the diet of both Drosophila and chimpanzees contains fruit [4,5]. Further research on the Khk protein and its relation to aldolase B could reveal differences in fructose metabolism between species that have it and species that don't.
Expanding the protein interaction network
Another feature of the STRING Database is that it allows visualization of proteins that indirectly interact with your protein of interest. The image below shows these "second degree" proteins interacting with human aldolase B. The network indicates that Htt, a protein associated with Huntington's Disease, has been shown experimentally to interact with proteins that are predicted to interact with aldolase B [6]. There is currently no literature published on any sort of link between Huntington's Disease and Hereditary Fructose Intolerance. With further research into fructose metabolism there may be a more subtle connection between each protein's function in the body.
References
1. QMBP. (2013). Glossary - ITM Probe Documentation. Electronic Resource. Retrieved May 18, 2014, from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/CBBresearch/qmbp/mn/itm_probe/doc/glossary.html.
2. STRING 9.1. (2014). String - Known and Predicted Protein-Protein Interactions. Electronic Resource. Retrieved May 18, 2014 from http://string-db.org.
3. NCBI. (2014). KHK ketohexokinase. Electronic resource. Retrieved May 18, 2014, from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/gene/3795.
4. Primate Info Net. (2013). Chimpanzee. Electronic Resource. Retrieved May 18, 2014, from http://pin.primate.wisc.edu/factsheets/entry/chimpanzee.
5. Miller, C. (2000). Drosophila Melanogaster. Animal Diversity Web. Electronic resource. Retrieved May 18, 2014, from http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Drosophila_melanogaster/.
6. Genetics Home Reference. (2014). HTT. Electronic resource. Retrieved May 18, 2014, from http://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/gene/HTT.
2. STRING 9.1. (2014). String - Known and Predicted Protein-Protein Interactions. Electronic Resource. Retrieved May 18, 2014 from http://string-db.org.
3. NCBI. (2014). KHK ketohexokinase. Electronic resource. Retrieved May 18, 2014, from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/gene/3795.
4. Primate Info Net. (2013). Chimpanzee. Electronic Resource. Retrieved May 18, 2014, from http://pin.primate.wisc.edu/factsheets/entry/chimpanzee.
5. Miller, C. (2000). Drosophila Melanogaster. Animal Diversity Web. Electronic resource. Retrieved May 18, 2014, from http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Drosophila_melanogaster/.
6. Genetics Home Reference. (2014). HTT. Electronic resource. Retrieved May 18, 2014, from http://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/gene/HTT.