Foldit Puzzles

2518: KCNQ1 VSD Round 3

KCNQ1 is a critical gene that helps regulate the heart's rhythm by encoding the Kv7.1 potassium ion channel. Mutations in KCNQ1 can cause congenital long QT syndrome (LQTS), an inherited heart condition that increases the risk of sudden cardiac death, especially in young people. While previous puzzles have focused on one domain of KCNQ1, in this challenge we're taking a similar but different approach by targeting the Voltage Sensing Domain (VSD) of KCNQ1.

2517: Electron Density Reconstruction 103

The structure of this protein-DNA complex has already been solved and published, but close inspection suggests that there are some problems with the published solution. We'd like to see if Foldit players can use the same electron density data to reconstruct a better model. Previously, we had a puzzle in which there was a Hoogsteen base pair in this structure, but now it has a Watson-Crick base pair instead. Also, a useful note for working with DNA: DNA sidechains can be turned relative to their blue arms with bands.

2516: Revisiting Puzzle 74: Platypus Venom

This is a throwback puzzle to the early days of Foldit. This small peptide was discovered in platypus venom-a rare instance of mammalian-produced venom, although this peptide appears similar to more widespread antimicrobials. This protein contains six cysteine residues that oxidize to form three disulfide bonds. We are revisiting old Foldit puzzles so we can see how useful the recent additions to the game have been.

2515: KCNQ1 VSD Round 2

KCNQ1 is a critical gene that helps regulate the heart's rhythm by encoding the Kv7.1 potassium ion channel. Mutations in KCNQ1 can cause congenital long QT syndrome (LQTS), an inherited heart condition that increases the risk of sudden cardiac death, especially in young people. While previous puzzles have focused on one domain of KCNQ1, in this challenge we're taking a similar but different approach by targeting the Voltage Sensing Domain (VSD) of KCNQ1.

2514: Refine Density Reconstruction 8

This is a protein we've given before in puzzle 2237, which was Reconstruction Puzzle 19, but now we have the Refine Density tool available to make folds even better!

2513: Revisiting Puzzle 73: Polycystein

This is a throwback puzzle to the early days of Foldit. This domain is a component of a large glycoprotein in humans that has been linked to autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease. We are revisiting old Foldit puzzles so we can see how useful the recent additions to the game have been.

2512: KCNQ1 VSD Round 1

KCNQ1 is a critical gene that helps regulate the heart's rhythm by encoding the Kv7.1 potassium ion channel. Mutations in KCNQ1 can cause congenital long QT syndrome (LQTS), an inherited heart condition that increases the risk of sudden cardiac death, especially in young people. While previous puzzles have focused on one domain of KCNQ1, in this challenge we're taking a similar but different approach by targeting the Voltage Sensing Domain (VSD) of KCNQ1.

2511: Refine Density Reconstruction 7

This is a protein we've given before in puzzle 2167, which was Reconstruction Puzzle 9, but now we have the Refine Density tool available to make folds even better! Learn about the new tool here: https://fold.it/forum/blog/new-tool-refine-density. This one won't allow loading solutions from that puzzle.

2510: Revisiting Puzzle 72: Citric Acid Cycle

This is a throwback puzzle to the early days of Foldit. This short protein is a component of the α-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase complex, which is best known for its role in the citric acid cycle. We are revisiting old Foldit puzzles so we can see how useful the recent additions to the game have been.

2509: KCNQ1 Round 12

KCNQ1 is a critical gene that helps regulate the heart's rhythm by encoding the Kv7.1 potassium ion channel. Mutations in KCNQ1 can cause congenital long QT syndrome (LQTS), an inherited heart condition that increases the risk of sudden cardiac death, especially in young people. In this puzzle, your challenge is to design a new activator for KCNQ1 that can restore function in variants linked to LQTS. For this puzzle we're going to switch up the task just a little. Now we want to target the Voltage Sensing Domain (VSD) of KCNQ1. It has been found that mutations to the VSD affect how effectively a protein is transported from its site of synthesis to the plasma membrane also known as trafficking. See blog post for more details, but note that we are looking at a different target site for KCNQ1 for this puzzle.