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1721: IL-7R Binder Redesign: Round 9

Closed since over 6 years ago

Summary

Created: August 28, 2019
Expires: September 01, 2019 at 23:00 UTC
Max points: 100

Description

Design a protein that binds IL-7R!

Interleukin 7 receptor (IL-7R) is a protein that helps regulate the human immune system, and is an important target in cancer therapy research. In this puzzle, players start with two frozen helices bound to the IL-7R target (also frozen). Players can fold and design about 20 residues flanking the binding helices, with the goal of creating a well-folded protein that can bind the IL-7R target! Players may also redesign residues on the backside of the binding helices, but residues at the IL-7R interface are frozen in place. The most promising designs will have lots of helical and/or sheet structure with only short loops, and will have a well-packed, buried core. There are several Objectives in place; see the puzzle comments for details.

This is the ~~seventh~~ ninth puzzle in the IL-7R binder series, meant to generate a large diversity of designs that can be tested in a high-throughput binding experiment! Due to time constraints, puzzles in this series will be online for only 4 days at a time. See the blog for more information. Remember, you can use the Upload for Scientists button for up to 5 designs that you want us to look at, even if they are not the best-scoring solutions!