Determining crystal structures through crowdsourcing and coursework

作者：Horowitz Scott^*; Koepnick Brian; Martin Raoul; Tymieniecki Agnes; Winburn Amanda A; Cooper Seth; Flatten Jeff; Rogawski David S; Koropatkin Nicole M; Hailu Tsinatkeab T; Jain Neha; Koldewey Philipp; Ahlstrom Logan S; Chapman Matthew R; Sikkema Andrew P; Skiba Meredith A; Maloney Finn P; Beinlich Felix R M; Popovic Zoran; Baker David; Khatib Firas^*; Bardwell James C A^*

来源：Nature Communications, 2016, 7(1): 12549.

DOI：10.1038/ncomms12549

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.

• 出版日期2016-9
• 单位东北大学