The present invention relates to compositions and methods comprising peptides with high mutual affinity that, when attached to a protein, assist the protein to fold into a compact structure. By virtue of its stability and binding, this scaffold extends the activity of any contained protein sequence in the presence of cellular and other proteases. This compact structure may have other included functional sequences, which are superior to linear and less constrained peptides for library screening, building structure-biased peptide libraries, and targeting specific intracellular and extracellular compartments. The compositions of the present invention can be displayed on viral, archaeal, prokaryotic and eukaryotic cell surfaces for library screening, drug screening and display. The methods of the present invention are useful for in vivo screening of intracellular effector proteins that modulate signaling pathways, and for identification of interacting proteins in vitro. Therefore, the present invention can be used as a scaffold for gene therapy, for the isolation of new therapeutic drugs, and has potential utilization value for use as a therapeutic agent in physiological fluids.