MulBlast 1.0: a multiple alignment of BLAST output to boost protein sequence similarity analysis.

The protein sequence similarity search has become a major tool for biologists. Various efficient and rapid programs and comparison matrices have been designed and refined in order to perform the scanning task (BLAST, FASTA, Automat, etc.). However, the final step of the search, the analysis of the results, is still tedious and time consuming. In order to optimize true-positive hit screening, we have developed a program which makes a multiple alignment from the BLAST search output. Conserved sequence segments are pointed out. It makes the recognition of already known as well as new sequence patterns easier. It allows at a glance a rapid identification of significant similarities, protein family signature and new sequence motifs. This alignment is written in a compatible format for the GCG programs LineUp and ProfileMake.