Building de novo cryo-electron microscopy structures collaboratively with citizen scientists

PLoS Biol. 2019 Nov 12;17(11):e3000472. doi: 10.1371/journal.pbio.3000472. eCollection 2019 Nov.

Abstract

With the rapid improvement of cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) resolution, new computational tools are needed to assist and improve upon atomic model building and refinement options. This communication demonstrates that microscopists can now collaborate with the players of the computer game Foldit to generate high-quality de novo structural models. This development could greatly speed the generation of excellent cryo-EM structures when used in addition to current methods.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Algorithms
  • Biochemistry
  • Citizen Science*
  • Cryoelectron Microscopy / methods
  • Cryoelectron Microscopy / trends*
  • Models, Molecular
  • Video Games*