We investigated the substrate specificity of papain dynamic structures for peptides of 8-10 glycine residues (8-10GLY) via molecular dynamics and docking simulations. The substrate specificity of papain for 8-10GLY fluctuated considerably with time. There were several residues that were different among those that had a significant impact on binding (RESIDUES_IMPACT) with 10GLY, 9GLY, and 8GLY. Modification of these different residues should allow for control of substrate specificity, providing a framework for modifying substrate specificity in papain and other enzymes. (C) 2010 Elsevier B. V. All rights reserved.