Multiple conserved regions

The sequence motifs identified in this way may be different from the motifs/ fingerprints listed in the Prosite [31], Blocks [75], and especially PRINTS [33, 76] databases, which use single or multiple conserved regions as consensus signatures to describe families or subfamilies and which are used as automated diagnostic tools for inserting new members into the framework of the already classified members. 

Protein domains are conserved regions of a limited number of amino acids that can bind diverse partner molecules to form structures of a higher complexity. The domains have a heterogeneous internal organization that consist of amino acid interactions and comprise multiple functionally distinct sectors or subdivisions. The sectors are regions of proteins that are distinct from the hierarchy of primary, secondary, tertiary, and quaternary structures. 

Fig. 2. Identification of Evolutionariiy Conserved Regions Analysis of the Emx2 locus across divergent species using VISTA Genome Browser revealed multiple evolutionariiy conserved regions (ECRs shaded columns).

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