Bioinformatics Insights on the Physicochemical Properties of SCN5A Mutant Proteins Associated with the Brugada Syndrome.

BACKGROUND

The Brugada syndrome (BrS) is a heart rhythm condition that is commonly associated with a strong predisposition for sudden cardiac death. Malignant ventricular arrhythmias could occur secondary to the dysfunction of the cardiac sodium voltage-gated Na(v)1.5 channel (SCN5A).

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to perform a multiparametric computational analysis of the physicochemical properties of SCN5A mutants associated with BrS using a set of bioinformatics tools.

METHODS

In-house algorithms were calibrated to calculate, in a double-blind test, the Polarity Index Method (PIM) profile and protein intrinsic disorder predisposition (PIDP) profile of each sequence, and computer programs specialized in the genomic analysis were used.

RESULTS

Specific regularities in the charge/polarity and PIDP profile of the SCN5A mutant proteins enabled the re-creation of the taxonomy, allowing us to propose a bioinformatics method that takes advantage of the PIM profile to identify this group of proteins from their sequence.

CONCLUSION

Bioinformatics programs could reproduce characteristic PIM and PIDP profiles of the BrS-related SCN5A mutant proteins. This information can contribute to a better understanding of these altered proteins.