Foldit Puzzles

2418: Electron Density Reconstruction 78

The structure of this protein 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. It's a monomer, but not every segment may be visible.

2417: Revisiting Puzzle 141: Rosetta Decoy 5

This is a throwback puzzle to the early days of Foldit. This protein helps to regulate oxidation in the cell; the starting structure is a model produced by Rosetta. This protein contains two cysteine residues, which oxidize to form a single disulfide bond. We are revisiting old Foldit puzzles so we can see how useful the recent additions to the game have been and to provide newer players with puzzles that are still scientifically relevant.

2416: Y4R: Round 3

Neuropeptide Y receptor subtype 4 (Y4R) is a key player in the fight against obesity. Y4R is a type of receptor found in the body, particularly in the brain, that helps control appetite and manage energy. It's part of a larger family known as the NPY receptors, which includes four subtypes: Y1R, Y2R, Y4R, and Y5R. Y4R is especially important because it plays a big role in regulating hunger and weight. Scientists have recently discovered that Y4R is crucial for reducing appetite and helping with weight loss in both humans and mice. They've found some special molecules, called allosteric modulators, that can interact with Y4R in a unique way. Unlike typical drugs that bind directly to the main part of a receptor (called the orthosteric site), allosteric modulators attach to a different part (the allosteric site). This is like using a backdoor to influence how the receptor works. By targeting these backdoor sites, we can more precisely control the receptor's activity without interfering with other similar receptors. This means we can create safer and more specific drugs. In this puzzle, your challenge is to design small molecules that can cleverly and safely interact with Y4R's backdoor sites. These molecules could play a crucial role in creating new treatments for obesity. This puzzle is an opportunity for you to dive into the world of drug discovery and make a difference in the battle against obesity. Your creativity and problem-solving skills can help us find new ways to target Y4R and improve health!

2415: Electron Density Reconstruction 77

The structure of this protein 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. It's a monomer, but not every segment may be visible. Also, if you're wondering if this is an example of a complete, well-folded globular protein like we tend to encourage Foldit players to go for, it's not. It's a part of a fibrous structural protein, and so on its own it might look a bit funny, but it's still helpful for understanding the function of the protein to improve the modeling.

2414: Revisiting Puzzle 140: Rosetta Decoy 4

This is a throwback puzzle to the early days of Foldit. This protein helps to regulate oxidation in the cell; the starting structure is a model produced by Rosetta. This protein contains four cysteine residues, but in this state only two of them are expected to oxidize to form a single disulfide bond. We are revisiting old Foldit puzzles so we can see how useful the recent additions to the game have been and to provide newer players with puzzles that are still scientifically relevant.

2413: Y4R: Round 2

Neuropeptide Y receptor subtype 4 (Y4R) is a key player in the fight against obesity. Y4R is a type of receptor found in the body, particularly in the brain, that helps control appetite and manage energy. It's part of a larger family known as the NPY receptors, which includes four subtypes: Y1R, Y2R, Y4R, and Y5R. Y4R is especially important because it plays a big role in regulating hunger and weight. Scientists have recently discovered that Y4R is crucial for reducing appetite and helping with weight loss in both humans and mice. They've found some special molecules, called allosteric modulators, that can interact with Y4R in a unique way. Unlike typical drugs that bind directly to the main part of a receptor (called the orthosteric site), allosteric modulators attach to a different part (the allosteric site). This is like using a backdoor to influence how the receptor works. By targeting these backdoor sites, we can more precisely control the receptor's activity without interfering with other similar receptors. This means we can create safer and more specific drugs. In this puzzle, your challenge is to design small molecules that can cleverly and safely interact with Y4R's backdoor sites. These molecules could play a crucial role in creating new treatments for obesity. This puzzle is an opportunity for you to dive into the world of drug discovery and make a difference in the battle against obesity. Your creativity and problem-solving skills can help us find new ways to target Y4R and improve health!

2412: Electron Density Reconstruction 76

The structure of this protein 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. It's a monomer, but not every segment may be visible.

2411: Revisiting Puzzle 139: Rosetta Decoy 3

This is a throwback puzzle to the early days of Foldit. This is a Crystal structure of a hypothetical protein and the starting structure is a model produced by Rosetta. We are revisiting old Foldit puzzles so we can see how useful the recent additions to the game have been.

2410: Y4R: Round 1

Neuropeptide Y receptor subtype 4 (Y4R) is a key player in the fight against obesity. Y4R is a type of receptor found in the body, particularly in the brain, that helps control appetite and manage energy. It's part of a larger family known as the NPY receptors, which includes four subtypes: Y1R, Y2R, Y4R, and Y5R. Y4R is especially important because it plays a big role in regulating hunger and weight. Scientists have recently discovered that Y4R is crucial for reducing appetite and helping with weight loss in both humans and mice. They've found some special molecules, called allosteric modulators, that can interact with Y4R in a unique way. Unlike typical drugs that bind directly to the main part of a receptor (called the orthosteric site), allosteric modulators attach to a different part (the allosteric site). This is like using a backdoor to influence how the receptor works. By targeting these backdoor sites, we can more precisely control the receptor's activity without interfering with other similar receptors. This means we can create safer and more specific drugs. In this puzzle, your challenge is to design small molecules that can cleverly and safely interact with Y4R's backdoor sites. These molecules could play a crucial role in creating new treatments for obesity. This puzzle is an opportunity for you to dive into the world of drug discovery and make a difference in the battle against obesity. Your creativity and problem-solving skills can help us find new ways to target Y4R and improve health!

2409: : Electron Density Reconstruction 75

The structure of this protein 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. It's a monomer, but there are some gaps in the visible segments.