• Map 2D bit-patterns in contact maps with 3D structural motifs: To better understand and explain the biological meaning of the bit-patterns in contact maps, we have made an effort to establish a mapping between such bit-patterns and well-known structural motifs (e.g., α-helices and β-turns) in 3D conformations. Currently, this task is carried out manually. We are in the process of automating this mapping. Such a 2D-3D mapping is essential to folding data analysis due to the following reasons: First, to gain insight into the folding process, it is critical to identify the formation of important local 3D motifs such as β-turns. Second, our previous studies show that by associating multiple bit-patterns in contact maps, one can construct effective structural signatures for different protein classes or folds [6]. This leads us to hypothesize that a mapping might exist between 2D bit-patterns in contact maps and 3D local motifs of a protein. In this work, we validate this hypothesis and report the mapping result later. Finally, such a mapping not only enables one to take advantage of the simplicity of working in the 2D space of contact maps, but also allows one to relate to the 3D space of protein conformations. This is important in understanding the protein folding process.