Ab-initio Algorithms for 3D-Protein Structure Prediction?

The protein folding problem remains one of the most challenging open problems in computational biology. Simplified models in terms of lattice structure and energy function have been proposed to ease the computational hardness of this optimization problem. There are three computational methods of protein structure prediction. These are namely homology modeling, threading and ab initio. Homology modeling and threading methods are knowledge based and requires libraries of experimentally predetermined structures, so a new reliable approach of protein structure from amino acid sequences is required. In this paper, comparative study of different methods of ab initio approach of protein structure prediction along with their limitations has been discussed. Special emphasis has been put on constraint based approach, which is potential approach for suggesting more efficient algorithm for 3D protein structure prediction.