Foldit Puzzles

Successful Binder Design Sandbox

This sandbox puzzle features three successful protein binders designed by scientists in this recent research paper. There are three starting structures, showing designed binders for CD3-delta, FGF receptor 2, and IGF1 receptor. Reset the puzzle to cycle through the different starting structures.

Design of the Month: April 2022

This sandbox puzzle features a symmetric tetramer design by BootsMcGraw in Puzzle 2121. This design uses an extensive H-bond Network to satisfy buried polar residues at the symmetric interface.

Successful Binder Design Sandbox

This sandbox puzzle features three successful protein binders designed by scientists in this recent research paper. There are three starting structures, showing designed binders for CD3-delta, FGF receptor 2, and IGF1 receptor. Reset the puzzle to cycle through the different starting structures.

2138: Symmetric Trimer Design with AlphaFold Predictions

Design a symmetric protein trimer, with 3 identical chains of 90 residues each! This puzzle enables AlphaFold predictions for the monomer subunit of your design, so you can upload your solution for AlphaFold using the AlphaFold prediction tool. AlphaFold will predict the structure of your monomer subunit only (i.e. in the unbound state, in the absence of other symmetric copies). If you load this prediction, then Foldit will attempt to align the prediction with your solution. If you continue working off of the AlphaFold prediction, you may need to make adjustments at the interface where the monomer subunit interacts with symmetric copies.

2137: Electron Density Reconstruction 7

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. In addition to the protein chain, puzzle includes a glutathione ligand that is fixed in place.

2136: KLHDC2 ligand design: Round 1

Design a small molecule which can bind to KLHDC2! We don't want you to modify the protein, but instead use the small molecule design tools to build new small molecules which fit into the KLHDC2 binding pocket.

2135: TGF Receptor Binder Design: Round 17

Design a protein that can bind to the TGF-beta receptor! This puzzle has a reduced BUNS penalty so that players can focus on other Objectives--but don't forget about BUNS completely! AlphaFold predictions are available for your designed binder. Once you've designed a binder for the target, upload your solution for AlphaFold using the AlphaFold prediction tool. AlphaFold will predict the structure of your binder chain only (i.e. in the unbound state, in the absence of the target). If you load this prediction, then Foldit will attempt to align the prediction with your solution (i.e. in the bound state, making an interface with the target). If you continue working off of the AlphaFold prediction, you may need to make adjustments at the interface where the binder interacts with the target.

2134: Revisiting Puzzle 136: Cell Adhesion

This is a throwback puzzle to the early days of Foldit. This small protein, from the venom of the saw-scaled viper, interferes with the cellular adhesion machinery that allows blood clotting. This protein contains eight cysteine residues that oxidize to form four disulfide bonds. We are revisiting old Foldit puzzles so we can see how useful the recent additions to the game have been.

2133: Symmetric Trimer Design with AlphaFold Predictions

Note: This puzzle will crash if a player uses the Cut tool. The Foldit team has tracked down the bug and will release a software update shortly. In the meantime, please avoid using the Cut tool on this puzzle!

2132: CD47 Binder Design: Round 8

Design a protein that can bind to CD47! This puzzle has a reduced BUNS penalty so that players can focus on other Objectives--but don't forget about BUNS completely! AlphaFold predictions are available for your designed binder. Once you've designed a binder for the target, upload your solution for AlphaFold using the AlphaFold prediction tool. AlphaFold will predict the structure of your binder chain only (i.e. in the unbound state, in the absence of the target). If you load this prediction, then Foldit will attempt to align the prediction with your solution (i.e. in the bound state, making an interface with the target). If you continue working off of the AlphaFold prediction, you may need to make adjustments at the interface where the binder interacts with the target.