Colliers de Perles
The expressions "Collier de Perles", "Colliers de Perles" are covered by a copyright when used for amino acid sequence graphical representations. If used, please refer to Ruiz, M. and Lefranc, M.-P. (2002) [6].
IMGT Colliers de Perles [1] are 2D graphical representations of the V-REGION, V-DOMAIN and C-DOMAIN of the immunoglobulin (IG) and T cell receptor (TR), and of the G-DOMAIN of the major histocompatibility (MH), based on the IMGT unique numbering [1]. Conserved hydrophobic amino acids are highlighted.
IMGT Colliers de Perles also apply to V-LIKE-DOMAIN and C-LIKE-DOMAIN from chains other than IG and TR and to G-LIKE-DOMAIN from chains other than MH.
V-REGION, V-DOMAIN and V-LIKE-DOMAIN
IMGT Colliers de Perles 2D representations provide information on the amino acid positions in the beta-strands and loops of the V-REGION [1-5] and V-DOMAIN [6]. IMGT Colliers de Perles allow to quickly visualize amino acids which are important for the 3D structural configuration [7], and to delimit the standardized FR-IMGT and CDR-IMGT.
IMGT Colliers de Perles representation are of great interest for all sequences with V-LIKE-DOMAIN(s) which belong to the V-set of the Ig superfamily [1]. This includes non-rearranging sequences in vertebrates (Xenopus CTXg1, human CD4, etc.) and in invertebrates (drosophila amalgam, drosophila fasciclin II, etc.) [1-5]. The IMGT Colliers de Perles are particularly useful if no 3D structure is available.
IMGT Colliers de Perles are generated with the IMGT/Colliers de Perles tool, developed by Gérard Mennessier (LPM, Montpellier, France). IMGT/Colliers de Perles computer program automatically provides the 2D representation starting from linear amino acid sequences of V-REGIONs.
FR-IMGT and CDR-IMGT are indicated for the V-REGION, V-DOMAIN and V-LIKE-DOMAIN [1].
