Identification of protein binding sites

Abstract

The disclosure relates to the field of molecular recognition or detection of discontinuous or conformational binding sites or epitopes corresponding to a binding molecule, in particular, in relation to protein-protein, protein-nucleic acid, nucleic acid-nucleic acid or biomolecule-ligand interactions. Provided is a synthetic molecular library allowing testing for, identification, characterization, or detection of a discontinuous binding site able to interact with a binding molecule, the library having been provided with a plurality of test entities, each test entity comprising at least one first segment spotted next to a second segment, each segment having the capacity of being a potential single part of a discontinuous binding site.

1 .- 10 . (canceled) 
     
     
         11 . A method of screening for a binding site able to interact with a binding molecule, the method comprising:
 screening a peptide library with at least one potential binding molecule,   
       wherein the peptide library comprises a plurality of test entities, 
       wherein the plurality of test entities comprises at least a first segment and a second segment, 
       and wherein at least one of the test entities is produced by spotting, at a solid phase, at least a first segment in close proximity to a second segment; and
 detecting binding between a test entity of the library and the potential binding molecule. 
 
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 11 , wherein the binding site is a discontinuous binding site. 
     
     
         13 . A synthetic molecule comprising a binding site identifiable by the method according to  claim 11 . 
     
     
         14 . A binding molecule comprising a binding site identifiable by the method according to  claim 11 . 
     
     
         15 . The synthetic molecule of  claim 13  wherein the binding site comprises a discontinuous binding site. 
     
     
         16 . The binding molecule of  claim 14  wherein the binding site comprises a discontinuous binding site. 
     
     
         17 .- 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A method for interfering with or effecting binding to a binding molecule, the method comprising interacting the binding molecule with the synthetic molecule of  claim 13 . 
     
     
         22 . A method for interfering with or effecting binding to a binding molecule, the method comprising interacting the binding molecule with the binding molecule of  claim 14 . 
     
     
         23 . A method for interfering with or effecting binding to a binding molecule, the method comprising interacting the binding molecule with the synthetic molecule of  claim 15 . 
     
     
         24 . A method for interfering with or effecting binding to a binding molecule, the method comprising interacting the binding molecule with the binding molecule of  claim 16 .