Protein Domains Shared Across Proteins

Protein domains are shared structural and functional parts of proteins. A domain is a region that can often be found in more than one protein, even when the full proteins are different.

This conservation means that a protein domain may keep a similar shape or role across related proteins. Because...

A protein domain is a self-contained section of a protein that is capable of independently folding into its three-dimensional structure. 

There are limited ways protein domains can fold since certain specific three-dimensional arrangements of alpha helices, beta sheets, and loops are more energetically favorable than others.  There are te...