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Photos of the IBM Blue Gene/L prototype
Blue Gene/L simulates biological membranes
Lipids provide the environment for membrane proteins and enable critical functions including cell signalling and cell division. Studying lipids is crucial to understanding diseases related to these proteins, including muscular dystrophy and Alzheimer's. One third of all proteins in the human body -- and half of all drug targets -- are membrane proteins. [ Download / Watch the Video ]
Blue Gene/L simulates hairpin protein folding
A hairpin -- or a small piece of a protein -- shows hydrogen bonds forming and breaking. This amounts to a microcosm of the folding process. The shape a protein folds into is determined by a balance of many different interactions, including hydrogen bonds and hydrophobic effects. Misfolding can lead to a variety of diseases, including mad cow disease and cystic fibrosis. [ Download / Watch the Video ]
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