1. Specify the input sequences

All the input sequences must be in one-letter amino acid code. The allowed alphabet (not case sensitive) is as follows:

A C D E F G H I K L M N P Q R S T V W Y

Please note that the sequences containing other symbols e.g. X (unknown) will be discarded before processing. The sequences can be input in the following two ways:

• Paste a single sequence (just the amino acids) or a number of sequences in FASTA format into the upper window of the main server page.

• Select a FASTA file on your local disk, either by typing the file name into the lower window or by browsing the disk.

Both ways can be employed at the same time: all the specified sequences will be processed. However, there may be not more than 100 sequences and 200,000 amino acids in total in one submission. The sequences shorter than 15 or longer than 4000 amino acids will be ignored.

2. Select organism

Different prediction models are used for different organisms. You are therefore required to select the organism type prior to running the prediction.

3. Submit the job

Click on the "Submit" button. The status of your job (either 'queued' or 'running') will be displayed and constantly updated until it terminates and the server output appears in the browser window.

At any time during the wait you may enter your e-mail address and simply leave the window. Your job will continue; you will be notified by e-mail when it has terminated. The e-mail message will contain the URL under which the results are stored; they will remain on the server for 24 hours for you to collect them.

NOTE: SecretomeP is dependent on a number of other programs that have to be run on the input sequences prior to employing the SecretomeP method itself. Therefore, the processing of multiple sequences may be time-consuming. In the case of prolonged wait the user is advised to use the e-mail option mentioned above.