Knowledge-based prediction of protein structures and the design of novel molecules

Prediction of the tertiary structures of proteins may be carried out using a knowledge-based approach. This depends on identification of analogies in secondary structures, motifs, domains or ligand interactions between a protein to be modelled and those of known three-dimensional structures. Such techniques are of value in prediction of receptor structures to aid the design of drugs, herbicides or pesticides, antigens in vaccine design, and novel molecules in protein engineering.