On behalf of the journal Biomolecules (https://www.mdpi.com/journal/biomolecules), we introduce the discussion group “Intrinsically Disordered Proteins and the Janus Challenge”.
To gain insight into the role of proteins in the origin of life on Earth, two leading experts in the field of intrinsically disordered proteins (IDPs) and the current Editors-in-Chief of the journal Biomolecules, Dr. Prakash Kulkarni and Dr. Vladimir N. Uversky, presented the Janus Challenge. This challenge consists in identifying an IDP, naturally occurring or synthetic, that has catalytic activity. Meeting this challenge may not only shed new light and even provide an alternative to the RNA world hypothesis, but may also serve as an impetus for technological advances with important biomedical applications.
A more comprehensive description of the Janus Challenge was published as an Editorial in the journal Biomolecules: https://www.mdpi.com/2218-273X/8/4/179
In order to support the Janus Challenge and improve the communication within the IDP community, we have opened this discussion group. Herewith, we aim to set in motion a debate in which every scientist can share their interesting ideas and points of views regarding the science behind the Janus Challenge.
