Anyone else doing Folding@Home?

[classicdrogn]

Projects 16437

Cause: covid-19

This project simulates the "dimerization" domain dimeric-form of the Nucleoprotein of SARS1 from the 2003 outbreak. The nucleoprotein is involved in genome packaging of the virus, which means that it binds the genetic material of the virus, RNA, and packages it up, helping it remain stable as the virus assembles. This packaging also allows the RNA to avoid our immune response that would normally chew up this viral RNA.

Nucleoprotein contains 2 folded domains, the RNA binding domain and the "dimerization" domain, with a "floppy" disordered linker connecting them. In projects p16436 we are simulating the RNA binding domain, and in this project we are simulating the other folded domain, involved in dimerization of the nucleoprotein as it assembles together to package the viral genome. This project specifically simulates the dimeric form when it assembles form. In p16438 we are simulating the monomeric form in isolation form, which has been less well characterized.

Our hope is that by simulating both domains, we can build a more complete picture of the viral behavior by modeling the floppy linker between them, and have a better understanding of how this virus works to evade the host-immune response, and potential therapeutic strategies.

this one isn't so active to look at, though it does have a dual-lobed structure like a brain or a pair of lungs, but dang son. Figuring out exactly how this bug evades the normally pretty beastly human immune system? That's the kind of thing that is the reason I decided to join in on F@H.