2737: Revisiting Puzzle 77: Copper Chaperone

Open for the next 4 days

Summary

• Created: March 11, 2026
• Expires: March 18, 2026 at 18:00 UTC
• Max points: 100

Description

This is a throwback puzzle to the early days of Foldit. This protein binds copper ions so that they may be transported safely to the cell compartments and enzymes that require them. The protein is modeled here in the reduced state, so no disulfides are expected to form. We are revisiting old Foldit puzzles so we can see how useful the recent additions to the game have been.

• Sequence: AQEFSVKGMSCNHCVARIEEAVGRISGVKKVKVQLKKEKAVVKFDEANVQATEICQAINELGYQAEVI

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Comments

[Serca]

CopZ with cysteine handcuffs
https://foldit.fandom.com/wiki/Revisiting_puzzle/77:_Copper_Chaperone

[bravosk8erboy]

Loci has a Hat Trick of Hat Tricks in high scores for this Revisiting Puzzle

[Serca]

This protein functions as a vital intracellular copper chaperone, acting as a molecular escort that safely transports toxic, highly reactive copper ions through the cell. Structurally, this small protein folds into an "open beta-sandwich" architecture, but its true functional power lies in a highly conserved Cys-X-X-Cys motif located on a flexible loop. Within this motif, two cysteine residues act like chemical "handcuffs," using their sulfur atoms to tightly but reversibly bind a single copper ion, neutralizing its cellular threat before delivering the payload precisely to its target enzyme.