Application of automated sequence analysis to the understanding of protein structure and function.

Application of automated Edman degradation to the covalent structural analysis of proteins has had an important impact upon the generation of structural information. The strategies involved in determining the complete sequences of proteins have been simplified such that studies of this kind can be carried out more rapidly and with less expenditure of material. Moreover, the high efficiency of the procedures in the anlaysis of intact polypeptides has allowed the convenient comparison of extensive regions of sequence at the amino-termini of proteins. Such structural studies have revealed a more detailed understanding of the function and post-translational modification of many proteins.