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You raise very good points about the role of protein folding and quality control in disease. But folding by itself is essentially a physicochemical process. A p
by flobosg 6y ago
You raise very good points about the role of protein folding and quality control in disease. But folding by itself is essentially a physicochemical process. A protein will fold (or its mutant will misfold) within a cell just like it would do it in a test tube.
Don't underestimate the role of structure prediction in human disease. There are proteins known to be involved in disorders where a structure has been impossible to determine by experimental methods (membrane proteins are a known example). And there are still plenty of barely characterized proteins where a structural model might shed light on their function.
> Your body produces this string of protein sequences
A small nitpick: you meant "string of amino acids". In other words, a protein sequence.
> Sometimes -- like with egg whites -- it's not.
Under the right conditions even proteins in coagulated egg white can be renatured.
- DoreenMichele 6y agoTIL: Under the right conditions even proteins in coagulated egg white can be renatured. A small nitpick: you meant "string of amino acids". In other words, a protein sequence Thank you. You are correct. Don't underestimate the role of structure prediction in human disease. I'm not. I just don't really find the tech behind it fascinating. When they start coming out with articles saying "This project has successfully predicted X and this is clinically useful in this way," I'm sure I will read it on the edge of my seat like a gripping thriller.
- COGlory 6y agoIt's going to take quite some time until this gets accepted at the same level of experimental data, if ever.
- DoreenMichele 6y agoI honestly have no idea what your point is.
- COGlory 6y ago>When they start coming out with articles saying "This project has successfully predicted X and this is clinically useful in this way," I'm sure I will read it on the edge of my seat like a gripping thriller. My point is that's a long way off. Like all data driven science, this will be great for forming hypotheses. However, without a falsification hypothesis, and empirical data, it is unlikely to ever reach the point where it's useful clinically.
- DoreenMichele 6y agoOkay. I don't see why anyone would feel the need to say that. It seems to miss the fact that my point is that I am not dismissing the importance of this to disease. I'm merely not fascinated by the tech. I said that explicitly, so I would never guess that anyone would think I would need it explained that "This is a long way off." Edit; The comment I replied to was edited after I began my reply, before I hit "submit." Comment I replied to initially only said My point is that's a long way off.