Linear motifs: Evolutionary interaction switches

Abstract
Linear motifs are short sequence patterns associated with a particular function. They differ fundamentally from longer, globular protein domains in terms of their binding affinities, evolution and in how they are found experimentally or computationally. In this Minireview, we discuss various aspects of these critically important functional regions. (c) 2005 Federation of European Biochemical Societies. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.