New & Noteworthy
Redesigned Protein Complex Pages: Enhanced Data Access and Improved User Experience
August 04, 2026
We’re excited to announce a comprehensive redesign of SGD’s macromolecular complex pages! We’ve overhauled these pages to make complex information more accessible, comprehensive, and easier to navigate.
Why Protein Complexes Matter
Protein complexes are fundamental functional units in cells that operate as groups of proteins that work together to carry out specific biological processes. Since 2019, SGD has provided detailed information about yeast protein complexes, including subunit composition, functions, interactions, and references. With this major redesign, we’ve made this critical information even more accessible and useful for researchers.
What’s New?
All Gene Ontology Information on One Page
One of the most significant improvements is the reorganization of Gene Ontology (GO) annotations. Previously, GO information was tucked away on a separate tab, requiring you to navigate away from the main view. Now, all GO annotations are prominently displayed right on the Summary page.
What you can see at a glance:
- Molecular Function: What the complex does
- Biological Process: What pathways or processes it participates in
- Cellular Component: Where in the cell it’s located
No more tab-switching—everything you need is in one place!
GO-CAM Pathway Models for Complexes
We’ve also integrated GO-CAM (Gene Ontology Causal Activity Models) pathway models directly into complex pages. When available, these models appear below the GO annotations, showing how entire protein complexes fit into larger biological pathways and regulatory networks. This provides a systems-level view that complements the detailed subunit information available on individual gene pages.
Enhanced Composition Section
The new Composition section is packed with detailed subunit information:
Stoichiometry Data: For complexes where the subunit ratios have been experimentally determined, you’ll now see the exact stoichiometry. This quantitative information is crucial for understanding complex architecture.
Structural Information:
- Expert-curated notes about complex assembly and structural features
- Direct links to Protein Data Bank (PDB) entries for complexes with experimentally determined 3D structures
- Protein-protein binding regions and interaction interfaces (when characterized)
Organized Display: Subunits are now grouped by their roles or relationships within the complex, making it easier to understand how the complex is organized.
Easy Navigation: Each subunit links directly to its SGD gene page, so you can quickly dive deeper into individual components.
Shared Biology Networks
Complex pages now include a Shared Biology section that shows:
- GO annotations shared with other complexes
- Subunits shared between complexes
- Ranked lists that prioritize the most functionally related complexes
The ranking system helps you quickly identify the most relevant relationships and potential functional connections, making it easier to understand how different complexes relate to each other.
Improved User Experience Throughout
Beyond these major features, we’ve focused on overall usability:
- Clearer section headers make information easy to find
- Better spacing and organization improve readability
- Consistent styling with other SGD page types provides a unified experience
- Logical information hierarchy puts the most commonly accessed data front and center
Try It Out!
Explore the new complex pages:
- Example: Sulfite reductase complex (NADPH)
- Browse all complexes: Search for complexes
We Want Your Feedback!
These improvements are based on feedback from the yeast research community, and we want to keep making SGD better. Have suggestions? Questions? Let us know at sgd-helpdesk@lists.stanford.edu.
Categories: Announcements, Website changes
Tags: Gene Ontology, GO annotations, GO-CAM, protein complexes, redesign, stoichiometry, UI, user experience, UX