www.epa.gov/research
EPA/600/F-19/019 | March 2019 | www.epa.gov/ord
science in ACTION
INNOVATIVE RESEARCH FOR A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE
SeqAPASS
Sequence Alignment to Predict Across Species Susceptibility
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What is SeqAPASS?
Sequence Alignment to Predict Across Species Susceptibility (SeqAPASS) is a fast, online
screening tool that allows researchers and regulators to use available information about
species' sensitivity to chemicals to consistently predict chemical susceptibility for hundreds
of other species. SeqAPASS uses available protein sequence and structural information to
understand species susceptibility at the molecular level. Using existing data from model
organisms to inform predictions reduces the need for additional resource-intensive toxicity
testing. SeqAPASS minimizes the complexity of protein sequence and structural
comparisons for species extrapolation, making the process more rapid and less daunting for
scientists and regulators alike to help guide research and inform risk assessments.
How SeqAPASS works
IDs chemical interaction with
protein targets of species known
to be sensitive to the chemical
Evaluates protein target
similarities in other species
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Predicts likely or unlikely
chemical interaction for untested
species
Why SeqAPASS?
By necessity, human and environmental risk assessments for chemicals use a limited number of models to generate toxicity
test data, which are then extrapolated to species of concern. Decreasing testing resources, international interest in
reducing animal use, and increasing demand to evaluate chemicals in a more timely manner means increased demand for
good predictive approaches to maximize the use of existing data. For some species, EPA has data regarding toxicity to
certain chemicals. SeqAPASS uses this data along with publicly available protein sequence and structure information to
better understand the effects of chemicals on non-target species. For example, if a chemical is known to interact with a
protein in one organism, SeqAPASS can help efficiently I) identify whether that protein sequence/structure is present in
other species of interest, and 2) use this information as an initial, screening level, line of evidence to predict chemical
susceptibility to hundreds of other species where limited or no toxicity information exists. SeqAPASS is a unique
application that is:

ROBUST: Pulls information
from the National Center for
Biotechnology Information
(NCBI) protein database, which
has information on over
125,000,000 proteins represent-
ing more than 85,000 organisms.
FLEXIBLE: Flexibility in the analysis,
moving from primary amino acid se-
quence evaluations to structural consid-
eration, allows users to capitalize on
any existing information pertaining to
chemical-protein interactions in known
sensitive species.
INNOVATIVE: Allows
users to extrapolate from
any species to all other
species for which protein
sequence data exist.
1
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency seqapass.epa.gov/seqapass
Office of Research and Development	^	! *
For More Information, Contact
Carlie LaLone: lalone.carlie@epa.gov

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www.epa.gov/research
science in ACTION
INNOVATIVE RESEARCH FOR A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE
How To Access
1.	Go to seqapass.epa.gov/seqapass/
2.	Request the free user account
Data Visualization
Interactive data visualization and
synthesis features such as customizable
box-plot graphics, make the
interpretation of results easier for users.
SeqAPASS data visualizations and
summary tables are downloadable for
use in presentations and publications.
Interoperability
SeqAPASS is interoperable with the
CompTox Chemicals Dashboard
(comptox.epa.gov/dashboard). where
SeqAPASS results from ToxCast Assay
targets can be obtained for use as an initial
line of evidence for extrapolating
mammalian-based high-throughout assay
data across species.
' Endangered Species
1 Bornean orangutan
Hawaiian monk seal
Killer whale
A Greater Indian rhinoceros
~	Giant panda
O Sperm whale
0	Green sea turtle
¦	Loggerhead turtle
A California condor
~	White-tailed eagle
O Australian saltwater crocodile
~	Colubrid snakes
~	Coho salmon
E
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