The next step??

[Naki]

How about Enzyme @ Home? When do we come to DNA @ Home? Or do they already exist?

[codysluder]

Enzymes and DNA are proteins and FAH folds proteins. If there's anything that related to protein folding needs to be studied which is also small enough to fit within the constraints of our personal computers, FAH will get to it.

[Naki]

Thanks, codysluder, that is nice to hear!

[susato]

Actually, DNA (and RNA) aren't proteins - they are nucleic acids. But they are important too, and F@H is folding them as well as folding proteins -- see below.

The project is folding a few enzymes, for example aldose reductase
http://fah-web.stanford.edu/cgi-bin/fahproject?p=2142
http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/a ... 3/5784/200

and also some signaling proteins like NIFK
http://fah-web.stanford.edu/cgi-bin/fahproject?p=897

and calmodulin
http://fah-web.stanford.edu/cgi-bin/fahproject?p=5102

Paula Petrone just published a paper on the ribosome tunnel; ribosomes are small particles inside cells which string amino acids together to make proteins. Each ribosome contains about 65% ribonucleic acid (RNA) and 35% protein. Both proteins and nucleic acids were simulated in the projects reported in the paper. See paper 59 on the Results page - you will find both technical and less-technical descriptions there.

Two early papers (#11 and 21) covered folding of small regions in nucleic acids such as RNA and DNA.

F@H researchers are also studying the interaction of proteins with other proteins, proteins with membrane lipids, interactions between neighboring membranes, interactions between proteins and small molecules designed to interact with them (many drugs have specific interactions with proteins), and interactions between protein and the water surrounding it.

[Naki]

Thanks, I hope we are not getting into genetic warfare any time soon - maybe FAH can help with that!