An evolution of minimalist models for protein folding: from the behavior of protein-like polymers to protein function

This overview highlights several folding studies that have used simple models to describe specific proteins, beyond just the shared topology of a protein family. A shift in focus to specific proteins (rather than protein-like polymers) facilitates comparison to experiment, and more detailed models allow rationalization of specific experimental observations, and the suggestion of specific, testable predictions. This new class of models and their investigation opens the door to understanding the origins of folding behavior in the context of evolved structure and function.