Methods to select agents that stabilize protein complexes

The invention relates to the field of structural biology. More specifically, the invention relates to methods for the identification and characterization of biomolecular tools allowing the selective recognition and/or stabilization of distinct conformational states of protein complexes, including transient protein-protein interactions and protein-nucleic acid complexes. Such tools can then be used for purification purposes, crystallization and structure determination of these stabilized protein complexes, for drug discovery, as research tools, as well as for diagnosis and treatment of diseases.