Proteins (1 of 2) (IMAGE) Rice University Caption A new method by scientists at Rice University has the power to predict topologies in proteins that form after folding, when the proteins are performing their functions. The red and blue lines are closely matching structures of a protein predicted by the SBM+DCA program (blue), which combines co-evolutionary information from sequences and data from X-ray crystallography from one conformation (red/left) to predict other functional conformations (red/center and right). The Rice method could help reduce trial and error, as well as cost, in the development of new drugs by predicting previously potential and previously unknown binding sites. Credit Faruck Morcos and Biman Jama/Rice University Usage Restrictions None License Licensed content Disclaimer: AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert system.