Foldit Puzzles

2060: Revisiting Puzzle 87: Zinc Binding Protein

This is a throwback puzzle to the early days of Foldit. This small peptide is part of a larger protein that helps to regulate cell division, and is very important in early embryonic development. The protein is modeled here as in a reduced environment, so no disulfide bonds are expected to form. We are revisiting old Foldit puzzles so we can see how useful the recent additions to the game have been.

2059: VHL ligand design: Round 1

Design a small molecule which can bind VHL! This is the first in a series of puzzles using the small molecule design tools to design small molecule binders to the von Hippel-Lindau E3 ubiquitin ligase. We don't want you to modify the protein, but instead we'd like you to build new small molecules which fit into the VHL pocket. See the new "Inside the Pocket" and "Fun with Fragments!" tutorials to learn how to use the small molecule design tools.

2058: TGF Receptor Binder Design: Round 12

Design a protein that can bind to the TGF-beta receptor! 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.

2057: Revisiting Puzzle 86: Nematode

This is a throwback puzzle to the early days of Foldit. This protein, isolated from the hookworm A. caninum, is an extremely potent anticoagulant. 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.

2056: 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.

2055: CD47 Binder Design: Round 3

Design a protein that can bind to CD47! 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.

2054: Revisiting Puzzle 85: Cell Adhesion Protein

This is a throwback puzzle to the early days of Foldit. This small domain is part of a larger protein that mediates interactions between other proteins in human development. This protein contains several cysteine residues, but we are modeling them in a reducing environment, so they should NOT form disulfide bonds. We are revisiting old Foldit puzzles so we can see how useful the recent additions to the game have been.

2053: 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.

2052: IL-2R Binder Design: Round 6

Design a protein that can bind to the IL-2 receptor (IL-2R)! 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.

2051: Revisiting Puzzle 84: Giant Anemone

This is a throwback puzzle to the early days of Foldit. This toxin, which is released by the sea anemone A. xanthogrammica, disrupts normal contraction of cardiac muscle in potential predators, and furthermore serves as a pheromone to signal danger to nearby anemones. 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.