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Domain (of proteins)

A protein domain refers to a specific functional and/or structural unit of a protein. The region generally adopts a specific three-dimensional structure.

A domain is different from, and generally larger than, a motif, which is a short, conserved region of a protein.



Definitions in the literature

  • ... a region of a protein that can adopt a 3D structure [1].
  • Conserved structural entities with distinctive secondary structure content and an hydrophobic core [2].
  • Domains are distinct functional and/or structural units in a protein. Usually they are responsible for a particular function or interaction, contributing to the overall role of a protein [3].