Patent Document ID: 5436850
Application ID: 08218685
Patent Flag: 1

Claim One:
1. A computer-assisted method for characterizing the three-dimensional structure of a protein, using a programmed computer comprising a processor, a data storage system, at least one input device, and at least one output device, comprising the steps of: (a) generating input data for the programmed computer, including the steps of: (1) determining, from the three-dimensional structure of the protein, values for n structural properties P.sub.1, P.sub.2,. .. P.sub.n for each amino acid residue position of the protein; (2) assigning each residue of the protein to one of a plurality of environment classes, based upon the values for the n structural properties P.sub.1, P.sub.2,. .. P.sub.n for the residue, thereby generating a one-dimensional environment string comprising the environment class of each residue in the three-dimensional protein structure; (b) inputting the generated input data into the programmed computer through one of the input devices: (c) comparing, by means of the processor, the environment string to a computer database of other proteins of known three-dimensional structure stored in the computer data storage system; (d) selecting, using computer methods, analogous three-dimensional protein structures in the computer database; (e) outputting to at least one output device the selected analogous three-dimensional protein structures.