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The original KFC Server (Knowledge-based FADE and Contacts) predicted binding "hot spots" within protein-protein interfaces by recognizing structural features indicative of important binding contacts. The server analyzed several chemical and physical features surrounding an interface residue and predicted the classification of the residue using a model trained on prior experimental data.
In April, 2011, a major enhancement to the KFC Server was made. Improved hotspot prediction methods are now available with this server. Using support vector machines (SVM) along with a training set composed of about the same number of hot spot as non-hot spot residues, and incorporating additional features which capture the degree of residue flexibility, improved predictions of hot-spots are now possible. Please see the KFC2 reference given below for more details.
The KFC2 Server still maintains the option to run the original KFC method. You will notice an additional button near the "submit" button which allows you to choose the old version. Presently, nucleic acid chains are not handled with the new KFC2 method. While work in this area is under way, submissions of interfaces involving nucleic acid chains will automatically be run using the original KFC method.
The KFC2 Server manual can be found here.
If you use the KFC2 Server, please cite: