Foldit Puzzles

2308: Revisiting Puzzle 81: Calcium Ion Binding Protein

This is a throwback puzzle to the early days of Foldit. This protein, which inhibits muscle contraction in the absence of calcium ions, changes conformation in the presence of calcium to allow muscle contraction. We are revisiting old Foldit puzzles so we can see how useful the recent additions to the game have been.

2307: G-Protein-Coupled Receptor GPR133: Round 11

Help us take on unexplored drug targets for brain cancer! While 1/3 of all approved drugs target G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), many of these receptors remain without appropriate small molecule ligands. This is a field of growing interest with many untouched possibilities for therapeutics. The receptor GPR133 used in this puzzle (also known as ADGRD1) was identified by researchers as a critical regulator of the response to hypoxia, low levels of oxygen in bodily tissue, and tumor growth in glioblastoma, a malign and very aggressive type of brain cancer. The interest in developing therapeutics is very high, and no small-molecule (ligand) is known so far. The structure of GPR133 was determined last year and the discovery of ligands would help to create novel therapeutics. Normally a larger molecule like a peptide would be used, but we would like to design a small molecule to fit inside this binding site to understand the mechanism of the receptor.

2306: Electron Density Reconstruction 41

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.

2305: Revisiting Puzzle 80: Calcium Channel Blocker

This is a throwback puzzle to the early days of Foldit. This toxin is found in green mamba venom, and blocks the flow of calcium ions that normally depolarize the muscle cell to induce muscle contraction. 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.

2304: G-Protein-Coupled Receptor GPR133: Round 10

Help us take on unexplored drug targets for brain cancer! While 1/3 of all approved drugs target G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), many of these receptors remain without appropriate small molecule ligands. This is a field of growing interest with many untouched possibilities for therapeutics. The receptor GPR133 used in this puzzle (also known as ADGRD1) was identified by researchers as a critical regulator of the response to hypoxia, low levels of oxygen in bodily tissue, and tumor growth in glioblastoma, a malign and very aggressive type of brain cancer. The interest in developing therapeutics is very high, and no small-molecule (ligand) is known so far. The structure of GPR133 was determined last year and the discovery of ligands would help to create novel therapeutics. Normally a larger molecule like a peptide would be used, but we would like to design a small molecule to fit inside this binding site to understand the mechanism of the receptor.

2303: Electron Density Reconstruction 40

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. The individual chains in this protein have the same sequence.

Revisiting Puzzle 79: Pheremone

This is a throwback puzzle to the early days of Foldit. This pheromone protein is secreted by the protist E. raikovi to initiate conjugation, the exchange of genetic material between two cells. This protein contains ten cysteine residues that oxidize to form five disulfide bonds. We are revisiting old Foldit puzzles so we can see how useful the recent additions to the game have been.

2301: G-Protein-Coupled Receptor GPR133: Round 9

Help us take on unexplored drug targets for brain cancer! While 1/3 of all approved drugs target G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), many of these receptors remain without appropriate small molecule ligands. This is a field of growing interest with many untouched possibilities for therapeutics. The receptor GPR133 used in this puzzle (also known as ADGRD1) was identified by researchers as a critical regulator of the response to hypoxia, low levels of oxygen in bodily tissue, and tumor growth in glioblastoma, a malign and very aggressive type of brain cancer. The interest in developing therapeutics is very high, and no small-molecule (ligand) is known so far. The structure of GPR133 was determined last year and the discovery of ligands would help to create novel therapeutics. Normally a larger molecule like a peptide would be used, but we would like to design a small molecule to fit inside this binding site to understand the mechanism of the receptor.

2300: Electron Density Reconstruction 39

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.

2299: Revisiting Puzzle 77: Copper Chaperone

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.