What is InterPro? What is the difference between member databases and matches?
InterPro is a consortium of member databases (PROSITE, Pfam, Prints, ProDom, SMART and TIGRFAMs). Each member database devises methods that can be applied computationally to assign a score for a protein according to how well it matches a given signature. For some types of methods, the classification is binary (i.e. hit or miss), in other cases a numerical value is produced and a cut off point chosen to separate hits from misses. Different member databases create methods/signatures in different ways: some groups build them from alignments studied manually, others use automatic processes with some human input and correction, while ProDom uses an entirely automatic method. See the publications of the different member databases for details.
