Internal conformation of the 'protein folding code' inferred from empirical tertiary structural classifications using Tlusty's topological approach

Abstract

Tlusty's topological arguments regarding the genetic code are applied to the classification of tertiary irregular protein symmetries. The underlying 'protein folding code network' is found to have one major, highly dominant, 'spherical' component, a minor attachment handle in the Morse Theory sense, and as many an two or three additional subminor handles.