IUBMB Beginner Puzzle: Coronavirus BA.1 Variant
Closed since almost 4 years ago
Beginner BeginnerSummary
- Created
- March 30, 2022
- Expires
- Max points
- 100
Redesign a protein binder for the coronavirus omicron variant! The starting structure shows how the LCB1 COVID-19 anti-viral was designed to bind the coronavirus spike protein. However, the BA.1 variant contains mutations that clash with the binder, and may prevent LCB1 binding and inhibition! The coronavirus protein (in gray) is completely frozen. See if you can redesign LCB1 so that it can bind to the BA.1 spike just as tightly as other variants. Try to improve the DDG and Contact Surface Objectives, and use the AlphaFold Tool to predict how your redesign will fold up. Refold and mutate the starting structure to increase your score and improve binding against the BA.1 spike variant!
START HERE:
If you are new to Foldit, here are detailed instructions to get you started:
http://fold.it/portal/node/988864
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- 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.
