Foldit Puzzles

2041: Symmetric Tetramer Design with AlphaFold Predictions

Design a symmetric protein tetramer, with 4 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.

2040: IL-2R Binder Design: Round 5 with AlphaFold Predictions

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.

2039: 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.

2038: 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.

2037: Cortisol Ligand Binder Design with AlphaFold Predictions

Design a binding pocket for the cortisol ligand! This puzzle enables AlphaFold predictions for your binder design, so you can upload your solution for AlphaFold using the AlphaFold prediction tool. AlphaFold will predict the structure of your binder only (i.e. in the absence of the ligand). 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 in the binding pocket where the ligand makes contact with your binder design.

2036: 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.

2035: 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.

Design of the Month: August 2021

This sandbox puzzle features a designed binder for the TGF receptor, created by an anonymous player in Puzzle 2014. The hydrophobic residues at the interface will make for tight binding. The polar residues at the binding interface satisfy buried polar atoms on the target, but they also ensure that the binder will fold even in the absence of the target. For more, check out Foldit Lab Report #23 on YouTube! This sandbox puzzle is non-competitive and will not award any points.

2027: Design with AlphaFold Predictions

Design a protein with the help of the new AlphaFold prediction tool! AlphaFold is an algorithm from the company DeepMind and can predict protein structures with incredible accuracy. We want to know if Foldit players can use feedback from AlphaFold to design new proteins! After you've designed a protein, you can upload your solution to the Foldit server and get back an AlphaFold prediction about how your design will actually fold up. Players should aim for an AlphaFold confidence and similarity of 80% or more. See the blog for more details about the AlphaFold prediction tool.

2034: TGF Receptor Binder Design: Round 10 with AlphaFold Predictions

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.