Determining crystal structures through crowdsourcing and coursework

Foldit Players

doi:10.1038/ncomms12549

Determining crystal structures through crowdsourcing and coursework

Foldit Players

19 Citationer (Scopus)

Abstract

We show here that computer game players can build high-quality crystal structures. Introduction of a new feature into the computer game Foldit allows players to build and real-space refine structures into electron density maps. To assess the usefulness of this feature, we held a crystallographic model-building competition between trained crystallographers, undergraduate students, Foldit players and automatic model-building algorithms. After removal of disordered residues, a team of Foldit players achieved the most accurate structure. Analysing the target protein of the competition, YPL067C, uncovered a new family of histidine triad proteins apparently involved in the prevention of amyloid toxicity. From this study, we conclude that crystallographers can utilize crowdsourcing to interpret electron density information and to produce structure solutions of the highest quality.

Originalsprog	Engelsk
Tidsskrift	Nature Communications
Vol/bind	7
Sider (fra-til)	12549
ISSN	2041-1723
DOI	https://doi.org/10.1038/ncomms12549
Status	Udgivet - 16 sep. 2016
Udgivet eksternt	Ja

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10.1038/ncomms12549

Citationsformater

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title = "Determining crystal structures through crowdsourcing and coursework",

abstract = "We show here that computer game players can build high-quality crystal structures. Introduction of a new feature into the computer game Foldit allows players to build and real-space refine structures into electron density maps. To assess the usefulness of this feature, we held a crystallographic model-building competition between trained crystallographers, undergraduate students, Foldit players and automatic model-building algorithms. After removal of disordered residues, a team of Foldit players achieved the most accurate structure. Analysing the target protein of the competition, YPL067C, uncovered a new family of histidine triad proteins apparently involved in the prevention of amyloid toxicity. From this study, we conclude that crystallographers can utilize crowdsourcing to interpret electron density information and to produce structure solutions of the highest quality.",

keywords = "Crowdsourcing/methods, Crystallography/methods, Curriculum, Hydrolases/chemistry, Models, Chemical, Protein Conformation, Software",

author = "Scott Horowitz and Brian Koepnick and Raoul Martin and Agnes Tymieniecki and Winburn, {Amanda A} and Seth Cooper and Jeff Flatten and Rogawski, {David S} and Koropatkin, {Nicole M} and Hailu, {Tsinatkeab T} and Neha Jain and Philipp Koldewey and Ahlstrom, {Logan S} and Chapman, {Matthew R} and Sikkema, {Andrew P} and Skiba, {Meredith A} and Maloney, {Finn P} and Beinlich, {Felix R.M.} and Zoran Popovi{\'c} and David Baker and Firas Khatib and Bardwell, {James C A} and {Foldit Players}",

year = "2016",

month = sep,

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doi = "10.1038/ncomms12549",

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T1 - Determining crystal structures through crowdsourcing and coursework

AU - Horowitz, Scott

AU - Koepnick, Brian

AU - Martin, Raoul

AU - Tymieniecki, Agnes

AU - Winburn, Amanda A

AU - Cooper, Seth

AU - Flatten, Jeff

AU - Rogawski, David S

AU - Koropatkin, Nicole M

AU - Hailu, Tsinatkeab T

AU - Jain, Neha

AU - Koldewey, Philipp

AU - Ahlstrom, Logan S

AU - Chapman, Matthew R

AU - Sikkema, Andrew P

AU - Skiba, Meredith A

AU - Maloney, Finn P

AU - Beinlich, Felix R.M.

AU - Popović, Zoran

AU - Baker, David

AU - Khatib, Firas

AU - Bardwell, James C A

AU - Foldit Players

PY - 2016/9/16

Y1 - 2016/9/16

N2 - We show here that computer game players can build high-quality crystal structures. Introduction of a new feature into the computer game Foldit allows players to build and real-space refine structures into electron density maps. To assess the usefulness of this feature, we held a crystallographic model-building competition between trained crystallographers, undergraduate students, Foldit players and automatic model-building algorithms. After removal of disordered residues, a team of Foldit players achieved the most accurate structure. Analysing the target protein of the competition, YPL067C, uncovered a new family of histidine triad proteins apparently involved in the prevention of amyloid toxicity. From this study, we conclude that crystallographers can utilize crowdsourcing to interpret electron density information and to produce structure solutions of the highest quality.

AB - We show here that computer game players can build high-quality crystal structures. Introduction of a new feature into the computer game Foldit allows players to build and real-space refine structures into electron density maps. To assess the usefulness of this feature, we held a crystallographic model-building competition between trained crystallographers, undergraduate students, Foldit players and automatic model-building algorithms. After removal of disordered residues, a team of Foldit players achieved the most accurate structure. Analysing the target protein of the competition, YPL067C, uncovered a new family of histidine triad proteins apparently involved in the prevention of amyloid toxicity. From this study, we conclude that crystallographers can utilize crowdsourcing to interpret electron density information and to produce structure solutions of the highest quality.

KW - Crowdsourcing/methods

KW - Crystallography/methods

KW - Curriculum

KW - Hydrolases/chemistry

KW - Models, Chemical

KW - Protein Conformation

KW - Software

U2 - 10.1038/ncomms12549

DO - 10.1038/ncomms12549

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 27633552

SN - 2041-1723

VL - 7

SP - 12549

JO - Nature Communications

JF - Nature Communications

ER -

Determining crystal structures through crowdsourcing and coursework

Abstract

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