Washington, the years since HIV / AIDS became a global pandemic, there is no cure that really could cure. But an online game claimed to have helped scientists determine the structure of the enzyme which could pave the way for the treatment of AIDS.

Game called Foldit allows players to create new forms of a protein molecule by folding them digitally on a computer screen at random.

In the journal Nature Structural and Molecular Biology, the scientists write that they have been confused by the structure of the protein for more than ten years. But the online community only takes a few days to produce a model of the complex enzyme.


Enzyme model made by gamers is called the M-PMV retroviral protease, which is a key enzyme that becomes important in the development of deadly viruses like HIV. Scientists have been trying to determine the appropriate structure for many years. The findings of this structure could be an important step in the development of anti-AIDS drugs.

With simple rules, the gamers who play Foldit must flip through the digital 3D model of the enzyme on a computer screen to try all possible combinations. They finally get a situation where the optimal structure requires only a minimum energy to survive.

Firas Khati, a biochemist from the University of Washington said that the purpose of this game is to see whether human intuition can succeed where automatic methods have failed.

Foldit attempts to predict protein structure by utilizing the human intuition in solving puzzles and making people compete to produce the best protein. Because protein is the cause of so many diseases, the protein can also be part of the healing. Players can design new proteins that may help prevent or treat disease.

To come into play Foldit, are not required to know various things about proteins, biochemistry or biology. Importantly, all players must have a computer and an internet connection. Once gamers to download and install the program, he can begin to compete with other players, turning the complex three-dimensional molecular structure by clicking the mouse.

The goal is to design an entirely new proteins or to predict a particular structure. Once a model is generated online, scientists and biotech companies will take over. Results Foldit game also has helped scientists in Alzheimer's and cancer research.

"This game provides a framework to unite the power of computers and humans. Humans have a spatial reasoning, something that has not owned a computer very well," said Seth Cooper, the creator and principal designer Foldit, as quoted by the BBC on Monday (9/26/2011) .