Moonlighting Proteins Database

Moonlighting proteins comprise an interesting subset of multifunctional proteins in which the two functions are found in a single polypeptide chain. They do not include proteins that are multifunctional due to gene fusions, families of homologous proteins, splice variants, or promiscuous enzyme activities. Moonlighting proteins include several different kinds of enzymes and other proteins and different combinations of functions. Recent crystal structures of some moonlighting proteins have provided clues to the molecular mechanisms of one or both functions, and in some cases how a protein can switch between functions. We are preparing a curated, searchable database that contains information about the sequences, structures, and functions for known moonlighting proteins.