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Folding@Home
Distributed Client
Download & Sign-up, Team Number 13915
(Team Ten Spider),
Folding@Home, The Pande Group, Stanford
University
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Folding@Home Team Statistics -
Team Ten Spider
Team Statistics, Team Ten Spider,
Folding@Home, The Pande Group, Stanford
University
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genomics.energy.gov
Office of Biological and Environmental Research,
Office of Science,
U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)
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Formation of a Peptide Bond (animation)
Dr. Gary E. Kaiser, BIOL 230 Lecture on the Web,
The Community College of Baltimore County
(CCBC)
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The kinetics of protein folding
Attila Rácz, Department of Medical Chemistry,
Semmelweis University of Medical Sciences
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Prion evolution takes lessons on diversification
from viruses
Carina Storrs, Observations,
ScientificAmerican.com, Scientific American,
Nature America, Inc. [ 1 January 2010 ]
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The science behind Folding@home
Folding@Home, The Pande Group,
Stanford University
[ updated 29 April 2009 ]
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Phylogeny of protein-folding trajectories reveals a
unique pathway to native structure
Motonori Ota, Mitsunori Ikeguchi & Akinori Kidera,
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the
United States of America (PNAS) Online,
Vol. 101, No. 51,
National Academy of Sciences (NAS),
THE NATIONAL ACADEMIES [ 11 November 2004 ]
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Protein chips could detect cancer earlier
Charles J. Murray, EETimes,
CMP Media LLC [ 20 October 2003 ]
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WHAT IS PROTEIN SCIENCE?
Definition: Protein science is the study of proteins,
their components, how they are created, how they function and interact
with their environment, their effects and uses within living organisms,
and how this knowledge can be applied. Protein science is a
cross-disciplinary nomenclature encompassing segments of scientific
fields such as molecular biology, biochemistry, proteomics, genetics,
bioengineering and nanotechnology. It will help us to diagnose and cure
diseases, understand how the human brain functions, reduce the effects of
aging, create new natural and synthetic compounds, and address other
challenges relating to biology and the miracle of life. Protein
science even reaches into space as we contemplate whether life exists on
other planetary bodies and theorize as to how it evolved on Planet Earth.
WHAT IS PROTEOMICS?
The constellation of all proteins within a cell is called its
proteome. A cell’s proteome changes constantly in
response to tens of thousands of intra- and extracellular environmental
signals as new proteins are assembled and unneeded ones are destroyed.
Proteomics is the study of protein structure and
activities. [genomics.energy.gov]
WHAT ARE PROTEINS AND PEPTIDES?
Proteins are long-chain molecules comprised of amino acids —
more specifically, of peptides, which are shorter molecules
containing two or more amino acids linked through a specific chemical
reaction known as a peptide bond. When a peptide bond is
formed between two amino acids, a single molecule of water is expelled
in a process known as a condensation reaction. (See
animation.) The distinction between proteins and
peptides has essentially been one of size, but a suggested revision in
definition would characterize a peptide as an
amino
acid molecule without structure.
Proteins are created within living cells under direction of
genes, which are themselves sequences of amino acids.
Through a complex process known as
protein synthesis, the genes within a cell
instruct the cell to produce different proteins in response to
internal and external stimuli. The proteins are used to perform various
cellular functions. Some ways in which proteins may be utilized by cells
are as structural elements, transport mechanisms, enzymes and antibodies.
WHAT IS PROTEIN FOLDING?
Following protein synthesis, a protein undergoes further changes which
include protein folding, a process by which the protein coils
into a three-dimensional shape that enables it to perform its biological
function, and, for some proteins, post-translational
modification, whereby the protein may be chemically modified for
purposes such as extending its range of possible functions.
Protein folding is an area of protein science that is receiving
a great deal of attention. Several large protein folding projects are
underway as researchers struggle to understand the intricacies of
protein folding. One of the most significant of these protein folding
projects is the Folding@Home Distributed Computing Project
being conducted by Stanford University in association with the Pande Group.
While protein folding simulations usually require the resources of a
supercomputer, the Pande Group has enlisted thousands of internet
volunteers using personal computers, each performing tiny pieces of work
during the computer’s idle cycles — a concept known as
distributed computing. Results of this effort are being made
available to researchers worldwide.
WHY IS PROTEIN SCIENCE IMPORTANT?
Protein science experienced an explosion following initiation of
The Human Genome Project by the U.S.
Department of Energy. This monumental 13-year undertaking to generate a
high-quality reference DNA sequence for the human genome evolved into an
effort that was multinational in scope. This initiative and the technology
it introduced have spawned numerous additional genome sequencing projects.
DNA sequencing opens the door to amazing possibilities within protein
science. Numerous early discoveries have led to new, more accurate,
less invasive diagnostic procedures and advances in immunotherapy and
cancer vaccines. Understanding how the human genome works to produce
proteins and how proteins are utilized within the body will ultimately
lead to highly-targeted vaccines and therapies as well as development of
nanomachines (nanobots) that can be injected into the
human body to fight disease and repair damage. Thanks to protein science,
medicine will undergo a revolution in this century unlike any ever
witnessed.
Authored by Kenneth L. Anderson.
Original article published 9 May 2005, updated 10 May
2005.
Follow links to the right to learn more about protein science and proteomics.
At the left margin, Related Links address topics of interest
pertaining to other biotech topics as well as related technology and science subjects. View the
Technology & Science SiteMap
for a complete list of technology and science-related topics.
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