公民科学家的新型蛋白质设计
Brian Koepnick1,2, Jeff Flatten3, Tamir Husain3
1Department of Biochemistry, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.
Nature
|June 7, 2019
概括
公民科学家利用Foldit游戏设计出新型蛋白质, 创造出多样化的结构, 这表明了公民科学在创造性解决新型蛋白质问题的能力.
科学领域:
- 生物化学
- 计算生物学
- 公民科学
背景情况:
- 在线公民科学项目通常利用数据任务的模式识别.
- 之前的游戏如EteRNA已经探索了RNA结构设计.
- 由于蛋白质结构的3D性质,新的蛋白质设计是复杂的.
研究的目的:
- 探索公民科学家在使用Foldit游戏创造新型蛋白质设计的潜力.
- 通过在线游戏平台生成新的蛋白质结构和序列.
- 评估玩家生成的蛋白质设计的可行性和成功率.
主要方法:
- 在线游戏Foldit适应了新的蛋白质设计,挑战玩家从延长的链中创建折叠的蛋白质结构和序列.
- 分析了玩家的设计,得分最高的解决方案为游戏的改进提供了信息.
- 146个玩家设计的蛋白质序列被合成,编码为基因,并在大肠杆菌中表达.
主要成果:
- Foldit玩家成功地生成了多种不同的蛋白结构和编码序列.
- 在146个合成设计中的56个是表达的,可溶性,并采用稳定的单体折叠结构.
- 这些设计代表了20种不同的蛋白质折叠,其中包括一种以前在自然界中未见过的新折叠.
- 四个设计的高分辨率结构与玩家生成的模型密切匹配.
结论:
- 公民科学家可以成功地为新的蛋白质设计挑战做出贡献.
- Foldit平台有助于发现新的蛋白质结构和序列.
- 这种方法突显了公民科学家的内在知识和解决复杂科学问题的潜力.
相关概念视频
02:01Group Design
10.3K
The most basic experimental design involves two groups: the experimental group and the control group. The two groups are designed to be the same except for one difference— experimental manipulation. The experimental group gets the experimental manipulation—that is, the treatment or variable being tested—and the control group does not. Since experimental manipulation is the only difference between the experimental and control groups, we can be sure that any differences between...
10.3K
02:01Factorial Design
13.7K
Factorial Analysis is an experimental design that applies Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) statistical procedures to examine a change in a dependent variable due to more than one independent variable, also known as factors. Changes in worker productivity can be reasoned, for example, to be influenced by salary and other conditions, such as skill level. One way to test this hypothesis is by categorizing salary into three levels (low, moderate, and high) and skills sets into two levels (entry level...
13.7K
02:15Protein and Protein Structure
87.1K
Proteins are one of the most abundant organic molecules in living systems and have the most diverse range of functions of all macromolecules. Proteins may be structural, regulatory, contractile, or protective. They may serve in transport, storage, or membranes; or they may be toxins or enzymes. Their structures, like their functions, vary greatly. They are all, however, amino acid polymers arranged in a linear sequence.
A protein's shape is critical to its function. For example, an enzyme...
A protein's shape is critical to its function. For example, an enzyme...
87.1K
01:25Design Example: Designing a Residential Plumbing System
1.1K
The design of residential plumbing systems requires carefully evaluating water demand, flow rates, and pressure dynamics to ensure both efficiency and reliability. The nature of water flow within pipes is defined by its Reynolds number, which classifies flow as either laminar (smooth) or turbulent.
1.1K
01:18Design Example: Designing Water Slide
622
When designing a water slide, controlling the speed of water flow is crucial for rider safety while maintaining an exciting experience. As water flows down the slide, gravity causes it to accelerate, with its speed at the bottom depending on the height from which it starts. The higher the slide, the more potential energy the water has at the top, which is converted into kinetic energy as it descends, increasing its speed.
Bernoulli's principle determines the water's velocity along the slide....
Bernoulli's principle determines the water's velocity along the slide....
622
01:27Design Example: Design of an Irrigation Channel
790
Trapezoidal channels are widely used in irrigation systems due to their cost-effectiveness and efficiency in conveying water. Trapezoidal channels feature a flat bottom and sloping sides, making them stable and easier to construct compared to other shapes. The bottom width and side slope ratio are determined based on the required flow capacity and site conditions. The side slope is kept gentle for unlined channels to prevent soil erosion.Hydraulic parameters in channel design include the flow...
790