Characterization of molecules

Abstract

The invention involves obtaining signatures of species (including chemical, biological, or biochemical molecules) and/or signatures of interactions between species and using them to characterize species, characterize interactions, and/or identify species that could be useful in a variety of settings. Signatures can be obtained using aqueous multi-phase partitioning and can be used to predict molecular interactions for applications such as drug discovery. A plurality of aqueous multi-phase partitioning arrangements can define an overall system providing an information-intensive signature, maximizing precision and sensitivity.

1 - 19 . (canceled) 
     
     
         20 . A method of characterizing structural states of more than one species comprising:
 determining an interaction signature of a first species;   determining an interaction signature of at least a second species;   comparing the signature of the first species to the signature of second species; and   recording variances between the signature of the first species and the second species.   
     
     
         21 . A method as in  claim 20 , wherein the species are selected from the group consisting of biomolecules, mixtures of closely related biomolecules, microheterogeneous mixtures of biomolecules, biomolecules bound to at least one low molecular weight ligands and biomolecules bound to other biomolecules. 
     
     
         22 . A method as in  claim 20 , wherein the species comprise proteins. 
     
     
         23 - 40 . (canceled)