Tetramer Design

A tetramer design puzzle is a type of Foldit symmetry puzzle.

As the name implies, these puzzles involve tetramers, proteins assembled from four identical copies of a protein chain.

A tetramer design puzzle has a main chain, and three symmetric chains. All of the normal Foldit tools are available on the main chain, but most tools can't be applied to the symmetric chains. Depending on the view options selected, the main chain normally has a colorful appearance, while the symmetric chains appear in shade of gray.

Any changes to the design or shape of the main chain are immediately reflected in the symmetric chains.

Tetramer design puzzles involve either C4 symmetry or D2 symmetry. A protein with D4 symmetry may be called a dimer of dimers. The type of symmetry affects how the chains move in relation to each other.