ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Discrete optimized protein energy

Okay kiddo, you know how there are these things called proteins in our body that help us grow and stay healthy? Well, scientists like to study these proteins to learn more about them so they can make medicine to help people who are sick.

But, studying proteins can be really hard and complicated! Scientists use special computers to study the proteins and figure out how they work. One thing they do is try to find the best way to fold the protein so it will work the best.

Now, folding a protein is kind of like making a paper airplane. You have to fold it in just the right way so it will fly properly. In the same way, scientists have to fold a protein in just the right way so it will work properly.

But, there are billions and billions of ways to fold a protein! That's way too many for a computer to look at all of them. So, scientists use something called discrete optimized protein energy to help them find the best way to fold the protein.

This is basically like a list of rules the computer follows to figure out the best way to fold the protein. It looks at things like how much energy it takes to fold the protein in a certain way, and how well the new shape will fit with the other molecules in the body.

This helps the scientists find the best way to fold the protein in a fast and efficient way. And that's important, because the faster they can find the best way to fold the protein, the faster they can make better medicine to help people who are sick.