beta_helix Staff Lv 1
We were so impressed by the Foldit results from last week's Flu Puzzle (http://fold.it/portal/node/992199) that we like to see what you can come up with in a similar challenge.
A part of the human immune system is the T cell; this cell is able to recognize infected cells. However sometimes these T cells recognize just normal human cells and this may cause an autoimmune disease. Luckily a ‘stop’ button has been found on the T cells, if a moiety binds to the CTLA-4 protein on the outside of the T cell it will slow down. We are therefore trying to find a key that fits inside a lock of the CTLA-4 protein and in that way can act as a stop button.
Since the binding region of CTLA-4 is known, we’ll give you 3 linked residues and your job is try to fit them into this constrained region of CTLA-4.
We are very excited to see what designs you will come up with for this new series of puzzles!
We will have a Scientist Chat with EvdH (who is working on this in the Baker Lab) so you can ask him any questions before we post the puzzle: http://fold.it/portal/node/992286
