GAPlus

A software tool for Ab initio protein structure prediction. The whole optimization process is controlled by an enhanced genetic algorithm framework with four enhanced features: i) an exhaustive generation approach to diversify the search; ii) a novel hydrophobic core-directed macromutation operator to intensify the search; iii) a per-generation duplication elimination strategy to prevent early convergence; and iv) a random-walk technique to recover from stagnation. On a set of standard benchmark proteins, our algorithm significantly outperforms state-of-the-art algorithms.