PaperBLAST – Find papers about a protein or its homologs

 

PaperBLAST

PaperBLAST Hits for tr|H8H045|H8H045_DEIGI Permease OS=Deinococcus gobiensis (strain DSM 21396 / JCM 16679 / CGMCC 1.7299 / I-0) OX=745776 GN=DGo_PA0211 PE=3 SV=1 (399 a.a., MTAPPPAPPF...)

Other sequence analysis tools:

Find functional residues: SitesBLAST

Search for conserved domains

Find the best match in UniProt

Compare to protein structures

Predict transmenbrane helices: Phobius

Predict protein localization: PSORTb

Find homologs in fast.genomics

Fitness BLAST: loading...

Found 86 similar proteins in the literature:

DR0252 conserved hypothetical protein from Deinococcus radiodurans R1
41% identity, 91% coverage

lp_2217 transport protein from Lactobacillus plantarum WCFS1
27% identity, 83% coverage

SAUSA300_1254 hypothetical protein from Staphylococcus aureus subsp. aureus USA300_FPR3757
SA1192 hypothetical protein from Staphylococcus aureus subsp. aureus N315
SAV1359 hypothetical protein from Staphylococcus aureus subsp. aureus Mu50
SAOUHSC_01358 hypothetical protein from Staphylococcus aureus subsp. aureus NCTC 8325
YP_499885 hypothetical protein from Staphylococcus aureus subsp. aureus NCTC 8325
25% identity, 84% coverage

F8FLY5 AI-2E family transporter from Paenibacillus mucilaginosus (strain KNP414)
27% identity, 85% coverage

SP_1505 hypothetical protein from Streptococcus pneumoniae TIGR4
spr1357 Conserved hypothetical protein from Streptococcus pneumoniae R6
SPD_1332 hypothetical protein from Streptococcus pneumoniae D39
25% identity, 83% coverage

ABUW_0982 chloramphenicol efflux transporter CxpE from Acinetobacter baumannii
28% identity, 78% coverage

O32095 Putative transport protein YueF from Bacillus subtilis (strain 168)
28% identity, 76% coverage

HMPREF0351_10955 AI-2E family transporter from Enterococcus faecium DO
25% identity, 77% coverage

Q8Y9E6 Lmo0584 protein from Listeria monocytogenes serovar 1/2a (strain ATCC BAA-679 / EGD-e)
lmo0584 conserved hypothetical membrane protein from Listeria monocytogenes EGD-e
27% identity, 80% coverage

LGG_01827 AI-2E family transporter from Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus GG
26% identity, 97% coverage

PP1667 transporter, putative from Pseudomonas putida KT2440
31% identity, 80% coverage

LMOf2365_0930 hypothetical protein from Listeria monocytogenes str. 4b F2365
26% identity, 86% coverage

c4267 Hypothetical protein yhhT from Escherichia coli CFT073
28% identity, 78% coverage

YhhT / b3474 putative transporter YhhT from Escherichia coli K-12 substr. MG1655 (see 4 papers)
b3474 orf, hypothetical protein from Escherichia coli str. K-12 substr. MG1655
P0AGM0 Putative transport protein YhhT from Escherichia coli (strain K12)
ECs4323 hypothetical protein from Escherichia coli O157:H7 str. Sakai
28% identity, 78% coverage

Bcer98_3102 protein of unknown function UPF0118 from Bacillus cereus subsp. cytotoxis NVH 391-98
22% identity, 76% coverage

lp_1247 transport protein from Lactobacillus plantarum WCFS1
25% identity, 79% coverage

A9WAN6 Permease from Chloroflexus aurantiacus (strain ATCC 29366 / DSM 635 / J-10-fl)
28% identity, 82% coverage

MSMEG_0249 integral membrane protein from Mycobacterium smegmatis str. MC2 155
A0QP26 Integral membrane protein from Mycolicibacterium smegmatis (strain ATCC 700084 / mc(2)155)
28% identity, 84% coverage

SCO5030 integral membrane protein from Streptomyces coelicolor A3(2)
28% identity, 68% coverage

PD374_19610 AI-2E family transporter from Pseudomonas sp. WCS374
28% identity, 80% coverage

Rru_A3520 Protein of unknown function UPF0118 from Rhodospirillum rubrum ATCC 11170
29% identity, 74% coverage

DESUT3_31000 AI-2E family transporter from Desulfuromonas versatilis
31% identity, 40% coverage

alr4938 hypothetical protein from Nostoc sp. PCC 7120
25% identity, 80% coverage

alr0242 hypothetical protein from Nostoc sp. PCC 7120
26% identity, 83% coverage

SGO_1657 membrane protein from Streptococcus gordonii str. Challis substr. CH1
SGO_RS08120 AI-2E family transporter from Streptococcus gordonii str. Challis substr. CH1
26% identity, 85% coverage

Q7USJ9 Permease from Rhodopirellula baltica (strain DSM 10527 / NCIMB 13988 / SH1)
26% identity, 79% coverage

RT0621 possible permease from Rickettsia typhi str. wilmington
21% identity, 80% coverage

BSU31160 putative integral inner membrane protein from Bacillus subtilis subsp. subtilis str. 168
24% identity, 69% coverage

TC 2.A.86.1.7 / O53656 Rv0205 (UFP0118) protein (376 aas, 8 putative TMSs) (may function with a heme uptake transporter) (TC# 2.A.6.5.5) from Mycobacterium tuberculosis (see 2 papers)
Rv0205 PROBABLE CONSERVED TRANSMEMBRANE PROTEIN from Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Rv
28% identity, 84% coverage

A9WJF9 Permease from Chloroflexus aurantiacus (strain ATCC 29366 / DSM 635 / J-10-fl)
25% identity, 81% coverage

F3M2M2 Putative membrane protein from Paenibacillus sp. HGF5
23% identity, 76% coverage

YP_499501 hypothetical protein from Staphylococcus aureus subsp. aureus NCTC 8325
SA0870 hypothetical protein from Staphylococcus aureus subsp. aureus N315
SAR0979 putative membrane protein from Staphylococcus aureus subsp. aureus MRSA252
SAFDA_0882 lipoteichoic acid biosynthesis protein CozEa from Staphylococcus aureus
22% identity, 87% coverage

Eab7_1321 AI-2E family transporter from Exiguobacterium antarcticum B7
33% identity, 43% coverage

spr0777 Conserved hypothetical protein from Streptococcus pneumoniae R6
Q8DQ98 AI-2E family transporter from Streptococcus pneumoniae (strain ATCC BAA-255 / R6)
SPD_0768 hypothetical protein from Streptococcus pneumoniae D39
24% identity, 85% coverage

Y11_00031 AI-2E family transporter from Yersinia enterocolitica subsp. palearctica Y11
25% identity, 76% coverage

SCO3797 integral membrane protein from Streptomyces coelicolor A3(2)
28% identity, 91% coverage

FTN_0570 PerM family protein from Francisella tularensis subsp. novicida U112
25% identity, 80% coverage

EF1798 hypothetical protein from Enterococcus faecalis V583
26% identity, 65% coverage

Q8F6G8 Permease from Leptospira interrogans serogroup Icterohaemorrhagiae serovar Lai (strain 56601)
27% identity, 78% coverage

MAP3640 hypothetical protein from Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis str. k10
38% identity, 34% coverage

O50485 Membrane protein from Streptomyces coelicolor (strain ATCC BAA-471 / A3(2) / M145)
24% identity, 79% coverage

Q7ULF1 Membrane protein-putative a permease from Rhodopirellula baltica (strain DSM 10527 / NCIMB 13988 / SH1)
26% identity, 84% coverage

lmo1419 conserved hypothetical protein from Listeria monocytogenes EGD-e
25% identity, 79% coverage

SMa0136 hypothetical protein from Sinorhizobium meliloti 1021
24% identity, 45% coverage

MXAN_7270 hypothetical protein from Myxococcus xanthus DK 1622
30% identity, 73% coverage

Gasu_58720 uncharacterized protein from Galdieria sulphuraria
25% identity, 43% coverage

HI0338 conserved hypothetical transmembrane protein from Haemophilus influenzae Rd KW20
27% identity, 76% coverage

VC2162 permease PerM, putative from Vibrio cholerae O1 biovar eltor str. N16961
23% identity, 83% coverage

SVEN_5413 AI-2E family transporter from Streptomyces venezuelae ATCC 10712
24% identity, 75% coverage

NLHAP_HALAA / A0A1W5X0D5 Sodium-lithium/proton antiporter; Na(+) (Li(+))/H(+) antiporter from Halobacillus andaensis (see paper)
22% identity, 73% coverage

sll1166 hypothetical protein from Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803
22% identity, 92% coverage

XF0589 permease from Xylella fastidiosa 9a5c
28% identity, 69% coverage

ECHLIB_RS01065, ECHWAK_RS01070, ECH_RS03745 AI-2E family transporter from Ehrlichia chaffeensis str. Arkansas
21% identity, 45% coverage

BMB171_RS27155 AI-2E family transporter from Bacillus thuringiensis BMB171
23% identity, 78% coverage

Q7UYF5 Predicted permease from Rhodopirellula baltica (strain DSM 10527 / NCIMB 13988 / SH1)
24% identity, 81% coverage

HNY42_RS13260 sporulation integral membrane protein YtvI from Exiguobacterium sp. Helios
22% identity, 86% coverage

STM2493 putative PerM family permease from Salmonella typhimurium LT2
27% identity, 39% coverage

BA1922 membrane protein, putative from Bacillus anthracis str. Ames
29% identity, 34% coverage

HSISS4_00898 AI-2E family transporter from Streptococcus salivarius
25% identity, 72% coverage

CD2273 hypothetical protein from Clostridium difficile 630
24% identity, 74% coverage

N007_01250 sporulation integral membrane protein YtvI from Alicyclobacillus acidoterrestris ATCC 49025
22% identity, 81% coverage

CD2051 hypothetical protein from Clostridium difficile 630
23% identity, 75% coverage

EfmE1162_0375 AI-2E family transporter from Enterococcus faecium E1162
22% identity, 76% coverage

Q7UIW9 Predicted permease from Rhodopirellula baltica (strain DSM 10527 / NCIMB 13988 / SH1)
23% identity, 85% coverage

TE101_15860 AI-2E family transporter from Alteromonas macleodii
30% identity, 45% coverage

CD2376 hypothetical protein from Clostridium difficile 630
30% identity, 31% coverage

YfgO / b2493 putative transporter YfgO from Escherichia coli K-12 substr. MG1655 (see 5 papers)
P0AFI9 Putative permease PerM from Escherichia coli (strain K12)
ECs3355 putative permease from Escherichia coli O157:H7 str. Sakai
26% identity, 39% coverage

cce_1269 hypothetical protein from Cyanothece sp. ATCC 51142
29% identity, 64% coverage

CD1045 hypothetical protein from Clostridium difficile 630
28% identity, 33% coverage

XF0281 transport protein from Xylella fastidiosa 9a5c
26% identity, 78% coverage

Q7USP8 Membrane protein from Rhodopirellula baltica (strain DSM 10527 / NCIMB 13988 / SH1)
24% identity, 81% coverage

PA1007 hypothetical protein from Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1
PA14_51300 hypothetical protein from Pseudomonas aeruginosa UCBPP-PA14
27% identity, 36% coverage

Vca1114GL_02777 AI-2E family transporter from Vibrio campbellii
23% identity, 83% coverage

Q04454 Putative transport protein BpOF4_00890 from Alkalihalophilus pseudofirmus (strain ATCC BAA-2126 / JCM 17055 / OF4)
22% identity, 69% coverage

YPO2450 putative membrane protein from Yersinia pestis CO92
24% identity, 83% coverage

EF1365 conserved hypothetical protein from Enterococcus faecalis V583
23% identity, 83% coverage

LBA_RS00210 AI-2E family transporter from Lactobacillus acidophilus NCFM
23% identity, 81% coverage

PPA1574 conserved membrane protein, UPF0118 from Propionibacterium acnes KPA171202
24% identity, 68% coverage

APJL_1147 hypothetical protein from Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae serovar 3 str. JL03
25% identity, 76% coverage

tqsA / P0AFS5 autoinducer 2 exporter from Escherichia coli (strain K12) (see 5 papers)
TQSA_ECOLI / P0AFS5 AI-2 transport protein TqsA; Transport of quorum-sensing signal protein from Escherichia coli (strain K12) (see 2 papers)
TC 2.A.86.1.4 / P0AFS5 Autoinducer-2 (AI-2) exporter, TqsA (YdgG) (see 5 papers)
tqsA / GB|BAA15335.1 autoinducer 2 exporter TqsA from Escherichia coli W3110 (see 2 papers)
S1754 putative transport protein from Shigella flexneri 2a str. 2457T
b1601 predicted inner membrane protein from Escherichia coli str. K-12 substr. MG1655
25% identity, 76% coverage

c1993 Hypothetical protein ydgG from Escherichia coli CFT073
25% identity, 76% coverage

ECs2307 putative transport protein from Escherichia coli O157:H7 str. Sakai
26% identity, 76% coverage

LSA0046 Putative transport protein from Lactobacillus sakei subsp. sakei 23K
25% identity, 80% coverage

Q7UPF9 Probable permease from Rhodopirellula baltica (strain DSM 10527 / NCIMB 13988 / SH1)
29% identity, 37% coverage

FNP_0388 AI-2E family transporter from Fusobacterium polymorphum ATCC 10953
20% identity, 78% coverage

Q188A3 Sporulation integral membrane protein from Clostridioides difficile (strain 630)
CD630_20350 sporulation integral membrane protein YtvI from Clostridioides difficile 630
24% identity, 78% coverage

New Search

For advice on how to use these tools together, see Interactive tools for functional annotation of bacterial genomes.

Statistics

The PaperBLAST database links 793,807 different protein sequences to 1,259,118 scientific articles. Searches against EuropePMC were last performed on March 13 2025.

How It Works

PaperBLAST builds a database of protein sequences that are linked to scientific articles. These links come from automated text searches against the articles in EuropePMC and from manually-curated information from GeneRIF, UniProtKB/Swiss-Prot, BRENDA, CAZy (as made available by dbCAN), BioLiP, CharProtDB, MetaCyc, EcoCyc, TCDB, REBASE, the Fitness Browser, and a subset of the European Nucleotide Archive with the /experiment tag. Given this database and a protein sequence query, PaperBLAST uses protein-protein BLAST to find similar sequences with E < 0.001.

To build the database, we query EuropePMC with locus tags, with RefSeq protein identifiers, and with UniProt accessions. We obtain the locus tags from RefSeq or from MicrobesOnline. We use queries of the form "locus_tag AND genus_name" to try to ensure that the paper is actually discussing that gene. Because EuropePMC indexes most recent biomedical papers, even if they are not open access, some of the links may be to papers that you cannot read or that our computers cannot read. We query each of these identifiers that appears in the open access part of EuropePMC, as well as every locus tag that appears in the 500 most-referenced genomes, so that a gene may appear in the PaperBLAST results even though none of the papers that mention it are open access. We also incorporate text-mined links from EuropePMC that link open access articles to UniProt or RefSeq identifiers. (This yields some additional links because EuropePMC uses different heuristics for their text mining than we do.)

For every article that mentions a locus tag, a RefSeq protein identifier, or a UniProt accession, we try to select one or two snippets of text that refer to the protein. If we cannot get access to the full text, we try to select a snippet from the abstract, but unfortunately, unique identifiers such as locus tags are rarely provided in abstracts.

PaperBLAST also incorporates manually-curated protein functions:

Except for GeneRIF and ENA, the curated entries include a short curated description of the protein's function. For entries from BioLiP, the protein's function may not be known beyond binding to the ligand. Many of these entries also link to articles in PubMed.

For more information see the PaperBLAST paper (mSystems 2017) or the code. You can download PaperBLAST's database here.

Changes to PaperBLAST since the paper was written:

Many of these changes are described in Interactive tools for functional annotation of bacterial genomes.

Secrets

PaperBLAST cannot provide snippets for many of the papers that are published in non-open-access journals. This limitation applies even if the paper is marked as "free" on the publisher's web site and is available in PubmedCentral or EuropePMC. If a journal that you publish in is marked as "secret," please consider publishing elsewhere.

Omissions from the PaperBLAST Database

Many important articles are missing from PaperBLAST, either because the article's full text is not in EuropePMC (as for many older articles), or because the paper does not mention a protein identifier such as a locus tag, or because of PaperBLAST's heuristics. If you notice an article that characterizes a protein's function but is missing from PaperBLAST, please notify the curators at UniProt or add an entry to GeneRIF. Entries in either of these databases will eventually be incorporated into PaperBLAST. Note that to add an entry to UniProt, you will need to find the UniProt identifier for the protein. If the protein is not already in UniProt, you can ask them to create an entry. To add an entry to GeneRIF, you will need an NCBI Gene identifier, but unfortunately many prokaryotic proteins in RefSeq do not have corresponding Gene identifers.

References

PaperBLAST: Text-mining papers for information about homologs.
M. N. Price and A. P. Arkin (2017). mSystems, 10.1128/mSystems.00039-17.

Europe PMC in 2017.
M. Levchenko et al (2017). Nucleic Acids Research, 10.1093/nar/gkx1005.

Gene indexing: characterization and analysis of NLM's GeneRIFs.
J. A. Mitchell et al (2003). AMIA Annu Symp Proc 2003:460-464.

UniProt: the universal protein knowledgebase.
The UniProt Consortium (2016). Nucleic Acids Research, 10.1093/nar/gkw1099.

BRENDA in 2017: new perspectives and new tools in BRENDA.
S. Placzek et al (2017). Nucleic Acids Research, 10.1093/nar/gkw952.

The EcoCyc database: reflecting new knowledge about Escherichia coli K-12.
I. M. Keeseler et al (2016). Nucleic Acids Research, 10.1093/nar/gkw1003.

The MetaCyc database of metabolic pathways and enzymes.
R. Caspi et al (2018). Nucleic Acids Research, 10.1093/nar/gkx935.

CharProtDB: a database of experimentally characterized protein annotations.
R. Madupu et al (2012). Nucleic Acids Research, 10.1093/nar/gkr1133.

The carbohydrate-active enzymes database (CAZy) in 2013.
V. Lombard et al (2014). Nucleic Acids Research, 10.1093/nar/gkt1178.

The Transporter Classification Database (TCDB): recent advances
M. H. Saier, Jr. et al (2016). Nucleic Acids Research, 10.1093/nar/gkv1103.

REBASE - a database for DNA restriction and modification: enzymes, genes and genomes.
R. J. Roberts et al (2015). Nucleic Acids Research, 10.1093/nar/gku1046.

Deep annotation of protein function across diverse bacteria from mutant phenotypes.
M. N. Price et al (2016). bioRxiv, 10.1101/072470.

by Morgan Price, Arkin group
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory