| This thesis investigates the interactions between proteins and their respective ligands. Recently, mutations in the genes coding for the proteins ATP1A2 and CACNA1A have been implicated for a rare, yet severe class of migraine, familial hemiplegic migraine. In the first stage of the investigation computational structure predictions are utilized to ascertain the three dimensional structure of these proteins. Using various motif databases, the functional domains of ATP1A2 and CACNA1A are determined. Finally, using computational docking schemes, the three-dimensional structures of the ligand-receptor complexes of these proteins were calculated. Predicting these binding interaction models serves as an approach to finding potential drug targets specific to Familial Hemiplegic migraine. Finally, the efficiency of the docking programs is assessed. |
