Glycine Hinge

From FoldIt Wiki

A glycine hinge on a recent puzzle. The amino acid glycine is located in the red circle and is unlocked. Wiggling will activate the hinge.

[edit] Overview

Because Glycine is the most flexible Amino acid, it will respond readily and rather predictably to manipulation. The glycine hinge is a tactic used to shape a section of a Loop containing at least one glycine. It is most useful when a player has some idea of where other secondary structures should go, and wants to bend the loop in a way that will put them in the appropriate places while not dragging down his local score too much.

[edit] Procedure

First, Lock the amino acids next to the glycine, while leaving the glycine unlocked. Then Rubber Band the locked amino acids in the direction you'd like them to move -- this will correspond to the way you want the hinge to bend. Finally, global Wiggle. The glycine will usually flex into a new shape, and if this helps your Compactness, Hydrophobicity, or Hydrogen Bond arrangement, the score will often go up!

[edit] Notes

• If you don't gain points at first from a glycine hinge, don't despair. Release the bands, unlock the puzzle, and global wiggle again. Often a glycine hinge will get you points on the rebound.

• The glycine hinge works because (apparently) there are few points to be gained or lost by bending a glycine.

• If you want to keep the glycine bent after applying the hinge, lock it while unlocking the rest of the hinge. Then global or local wiggle.