Main Page

by Eric Martz
After decades of slow progress by many groups, in 2020, AlphaFold2 proved able to accurately predict the detailed structures of two-thirds of single protein domains from their amino acid sequences. Pictured is AlphaFold2's prediction for the ORF8 protein of SARS-CoV-2 (black), compared with a subsequently published X-ray crystallographic structure (colors). ORF8 contributes to virulence in COVID-19.
>>> Visit this page >>>

by Eric Martz
A historical review on sculptures and physical models of macromolecules.

>>> Visit this page >>>

G Atilla-Gocumen, L Di Costanzo, E Meggers. J Biol Inorg Chem. 2010 doi: 10.1007/s00775-010-0699-x
A crystal structure of an organometallic half-sandwich ruthenium complex bound to glycogen synthase kinase 3ß (GSK-3ß) reveals that the inhibitor binds to the ATP binding site via an induced fit mechanism utilizing several hydrogen bonds and hydrophobic interactions. Importantly, the metal is not involved in any direct interaction with the protein kinase but fulfills a purely structural role.

>>> Visit this I3DC complement >>>

Above is an integral membrane protein that takes up, into your intestinal cells, orally consumed peptide nutrients and drugs. Its lumen-face (top) opens and binds peptide or drug (small solid object in the center), then closes, while its cytoplasmic face (bottom) opens to release its cargo into the intestinal cell, which passes it on to the blood circulation.

>>> See more animations and explanation >>>