Placeholder image of a protein
Icon representing a puzzle

Beginner Puzzle (<150): Coronavirus

Closed since about 6 years ago

Beginner Beginner Beginner Beginner Beginner Beginner

Summary

Created
March 03, 2020
Expires
Max points
100
Description

Design a protein binder against coronavirus! The starting structure shows how the coronavirus spike protein binds to a human receptor protein. The coronavirus protein (in gray) is mostly frozen, except for the orange and blue sidechains at the binding site. The binding site of coronavirus sticks to the human protein (in color), and this allows the coronavirus to infect human cells. We want to design a new protein that can bind to coronavirus more tightly than the human protein! A tight binder could block the normal coronavirus-human interaction, and might be used as an antiviral drug against coronavirus! Refold and mutate the starting structure to increase your score and improve binding against coronavirus!



START HERE:

If you are new to Foldit, here are detailed instructions to get you started:

http://fold.it/portal/node/988864

_____________________________


If you want to fold proteins, know that there are many ways to play and this variety is the main value of Foldit :

- try all puzzles not only "Beginners" ones,

- fold first the ones you like the most,

- try it by yourself to understand what works and what doesn't,

- ask for tips in global chat when you think you don't understand something.

Top groups

  1. Avatar for BHS - Hanks 31. BHS - Hanks 22 pts. 13,126
  2. Avatar for Australia 32. Australia 21 pts. 13,092
  3. Avatar for Auburn University BIOL 3000 Genetics 33. Auburn University BIOL 3000 Genetics 20 pts. 13,090
  4. Avatar for Contenders 34. Contenders 19 pts. 13,089
  5. Avatar for ROMANIA Team 35. ROMANIA Team 18 pts. 13,072
  6. Avatar for L'Alliance Francophone 36. L'Alliance Francophone 16 pts. 13,061
  7. Avatar for Bio 46 - Tufts University - Sp20 37. Bio 46 - Tufts University - Sp20 15 pts. 13,051
  8. Avatar for OIS Folders 38. OIS Folders 15 pts. 13,042
  9. Avatar for Marvin's bunch 39. Marvin's bunch 14 pts. 13,040
  10. Avatar for RaidersCareAustria 40. RaidersCareAustria 13 pts. 13,039
  1. Avatar for brendends 4551. brendends Lv 1 4 pts. 12,157
  2. Avatar for Sonorous 4552. Sonorous Lv 1 4 pts. 12,157
  3. Avatar for Paulley43 4553. Paulley43 Lv 1 4 pts. 12,157
  4. Avatar for Mizraim 4554. Mizraim Lv 1 4 pts. 12,157
  5. Avatar for MrTurnbull 4555. MrTurnbull Lv 1 4 pts. 12,157
  6. Avatar for DundeeCZE 4556. DundeeCZE Lv 1 4 pts. 12,156
  7. Avatar for Heroofmetal 4557. Heroofmetal Lv 1 4 pts. 12,156
  8. Avatar for yazuma 4558. yazuma Lv 1 4 pts. 12,156
  9. Avatar for IgnorableLettuce 4559. IgnorableLettuce Lv 1 4 pts. 12,155
  10. Avatar for polardroid 4560. polardroid Lv 1 4 pts. 12,155

Comments

bkoep Staff Lv 1

The solutions from this Beginner puzzle are incompatible with other non-Beginner puzzles,. Players may not load solutions from this puzzle into other coronavirus puzzles.