Foldit Puzzles

2131: Revisiting Puzzle 135: E. coli

This is a throwback puzzle to the early days of Foldit. This protein comes from the bacteria Escherichia coli, but its function is still unknown! 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.

2130: Symmetric Trimer Design with AlphaFold Predictions

Design a symmetric protein trimer, with 3 identical chains of 60 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.

2129: Tie2 Binder Design: Round 5

Design a protein to bind to the Tie2 receptor! This puzzle has a reduced BUNS penalty so that players can focus on other Objectives--but don't forget about BUNS completely! This puzzle enables AlphaFold predictions 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.

2128: Revisiting Puzzle 134: Rice

This is a throwback puzzle to the early days of Foldit. This protein shuttles lipids between cell membranes in the rice plant. The protein contains eight cysteines 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 and to provide newer players with problems that are still scientifically relevant.

2127: Symmetric Trimer Design with AlphaFold Predictions

Design a symmetric protein trimer, with 3 identical chains of 80 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.

2126: CD22 Binder Design: Round 3

Design a protein that can bind to CD22! This puzzle has a reduced BUNS penalty so that players can focus on other Objectives--but don't forget about BUNS completely! This puzzle enables AlphaFold predictions 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.

Design of the Month: March 2022

This sandbox puzzle features a monomer protein design by Bletchley Park from Puzzle 2106. This design forms an NTF2 fold, with an open pocket that could be repurposed to bind a small molecule.

2125: Revisiting Puzzle 126: Ethanolamine Utilization

This is a throwback puzzle to the early days of Foldit. This protein allows bacteria to metabolize ethanolamine and use it in constructing cell walls and cell membranes. The protein is modeled here in reduced form, 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 and to provide newer players with puzzles that are still scientifically relevant.

2124: Symmetric Tetramer Design with AlphaFold Predictions

Design a symmetric protein tetramer, with 4 identical chains of 60 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.

2123: CD47 Binder Design: Round 7

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.