ProLint: a web-based framework for the automated data analysis and visualization of lipid–protein interactions

The functional activity of membrane proteins is carried out in a complex lipid environment. Increasingly, it is becoming clear that lipids are an important player in regulating or generally modulating their activity. A routinely used method to gain insight into this interplay between lipids and proteins are Molecular Dynamics (MD) simulations, since they allow us to study interactions at atomic or near-atomic detail as a function of time. A major bottleneck, however, is analyzing and visualizing lipid–protein interactions, which, in practice, is a time-demanding task. Here, we present ProLint (www.prolint.ca), a webserver that completely automates analysis of MD generated files and visualization of lipid–protein interactions. Analysis is modular allowing users to select their preferred method, and visualization is entirely interactive through custom built applications that enable a detailed qualitative and quantitative exploration of lipid–protein interactions. ProLint also includes a database of published MD results that have been processed through the ProLint workflow and can be visualized by anyone regardless of their level of experience with MD. The automated analysis, feature-rich visualization, database integration, and open-source distribution with an easy to install process, will allow ProLint to become a routine workflow in lipid–protein interaction studies.