Protein field guide FoldLens Junior

Fifty well-studied proteins, one plain line each — a gentle warm-up before you open the 3D explorer. Every card is tagged to a NGSS Middle School Life Science idea. Nothing here needs a login, and nothing about you is collected.

Open the 3D explorer →

Or pick a part of your body →

• 

  Insulin

  Insulin is a signal your body sends out after you eat. It makes your cells take in sugar. Without it, sugar piles up in your blood.

  Body as a system AlphaFold DB model v6 for UniProt P01308, from Fold Commons' snapshot of 2026-10-04. A prediction, not an experiment. Picture: AlphaFold DB model v6, CC BY 4.0
• 

  Hemoglobin (alpha)

  Hemoglobin is the red stuff in your blood. Oxygen sticks to it in your lungs and comes off again out in your body.

  Body as a system AlphaFold DB model v6 for UniProt P69905, from Fold Commons' snapshot of 2026-10-04. A prediction, not an experiment. Picture: AlphaFold DB model v6, CC BY 4.0
• 

  Hemoglobin (beta)

  This piece pairs with alpha to make full hemoglobin. One tiny change in the beta gene, passed down from both parents, causes sickle cell disease.

  Structure & function of proteins AlphaFold DB model v6 for UniProt P68871, from Fold Commons' snapshot of 2026-10-04. A prediction, not an experiment. Picture: AlphaFold DB model v6, CC BY 4.0
• 

  Green Fluorescent Protein

  This protein glows bright green under blue light. Scientists attach it to other proteins so they can see where those proteins are inside cells.

  Structure & function of proteins AlphaFold DB model v6 for UniProt P42212, from Fold Commons' snapshot of 2026-10-04. A prediction, not an experiment. Picture: AlphaFold DB model v6, CC BY 4.0
• 

  Alpha-amylase

  This enzyme in your spit chops starch into sugar. That is why bread starts to taste sweet if you chew it for a while.

  Food, energy, and growth AlphaFold DB model v6 for UniProt P0DUB6, from Fold Commons' snapshot of 2026-10-04. A prediction, not an experiment. Picture: AlphaFold DB model v6, CC BY 4.0
• 

  Antibody (IgG)

  Antibodies are Y-shaped grabbers your blood makes to catch germs. They lock onto a germ and flag it for the cleanup team.

  Body as a system AlphaFold DB model v6 for UniProt P01857, from Fold Commons' snapshot of 2026-10-04. A prediction, not an experiment. Picture: AlphaFold DB model v6, CC BY 4.0
• 

  Myoglobin

  Myoglobin sits in muscle and holds onto oxygen until your muscle needs a burst. It is why steak is red.

  Body as a system AlphaFold DB model v6 for UniProt P02144, from Fold Commons' snapshot of 2026-10-04. A prediction, not an experiment. Picture: AlphaFold DB model v6, CC BY 4.0
• 

  Collagen

  Collagen is the rope that holds your skin, tendons, and bones together. It is the most common protein in your body.

  Body as a system AlphaFold DB model v6 for UniProt P02452, from Fold Commons' snapshot of 2026-10-04. A prediction, not an experiment. Picture: AlphaFold DB model v6, CC BY 4.0
• 

  Keratin

  Keratin builds your hair, fingernails, and the top layer of your skin. It is tough because its chains stack tightly.

  Body as a system AlphaFold DB model v6 for UniProt P04264, from Fold Commons' snapshot of 2026-10-04. A prediction, not an experiment. Picture: AlphaFold DB model v6, CC BY 4.0
• 

  Actin

  Actin links into long cables inside muscle cells. When myosin pulls on those cables, your muscle squeezes shorter.

  Body as a system AlphaFold DB model v6 for UniProt P68133, from Fold Commons' snapshot of 2026-10-04. A prediction, not an experiment. Picture: AlphaFold DB model v6, CC BY 4.0
• 

  Myosin

  Myosin is a tiny motor inside muscle. Each time it uses up a bit of fuel called ATP, it changes shape and tugs on actin cables. Millions of tugs make a muscle squeeze.

  Body as a system AlphaFold DB model v6 for UniProt P12882, from Fold Commons' snapshot of 2026-10-04. A prediction, not an experiment. Picture: AlphaFold DB model v6, CC BY 4.0
• 

  Trypsin

  Trypsin lives in your small intestine. It snips proteins from food into smaller chunks your gut can use.

  Food, energy, and growth AlphaFold DB model v6 for UniProt P07477, from Fold Commons' snapshot of 2026-10-04. A prediction, not an experiment. Picture: AlphaFold DB model v6, CC BY 4.0
• 

  Pepsin

  Pepsin works in your stomach where the acid is strong. It starts breaking down protein in food right away.

  Food, energy, and growth AlphaFold DB model v6 for UniProt P0DJD7, from Fold Commons' snapshot of 2026-10-04. A prediction, not an experiment. Picture: AlphaFold DB model v6, CC BY 4.0
• 

  Lactase

  Lactase splits the sugar in milk into two smaller sugars. Many people make much less of it after childhood, and then a lot of milk can upset their stomach.

  Genetic variation AlphaFold DB model v6 for UniProt P09848, from Fold Commons' snapshot of 2026-10-04. A prediction, not an experiment. Picture: AlphaFold DB model v6, CC BY 4.0
• 

  Catalase

  Your cells make a chemical called hydrogen peroxide that can hurt them. Catalase chops it into water and oxygen, fast.

  Inside the cell AlphaFold DB model v6 for UniProt P04040, from Fold Commons' snapshot of 2026-10-04. A prediction, not an experiment. Picture: AlphaFold DB model v6, CC BY 4.0
• 

  Lysozyme

  Lysozyme is in your tears, spit, and snot. It pops open the walls of bacteria before they can make you sick.

  Body as a system AlphaFold DB model v6 for UniProt P61626, from Fold Commons' snapshot of 2026-10-04. A prediction, not an experiment. Picture: AlphaFold DB model v6, CC BY 4.0
• 

  Serum albumin

  Albumin floats in your blood and carries hitchhikers like fats and medicines around your body.

  Body as a system AlphaFold DB model v6 for UniProt P02768, from Fold Commons' snapshot of 2026-10-04. A prediction, not an experiment. Picture: AlphaFold DB model v6, CC BY 4.0
• 

  Ferritin

  Ferritin is a hollow ball that stores iron safely inside your cells until your body needs it.

  Inside the cell AlphaFold DB model v6 for UniProt P02794, from Fold Commons' snapshot of 2026-10-04. A prediction, not an experiment. Picture: AlphaFold DB model v6, CC BY 4.0
• 

  Casein

  Casein is the main protein in cow milk. Its tiny clumps, along with drops of fat, scatter light, so milk looks white.

  Food, energy, and growth AlphaFold DB model v6 for UniProt P02662, from Fold Commons' snapshot of 2026-10-04. A prediction, not an experiment. Picture: AlphaFold DB model v6, CC BY 4.0
• 

  Ovalbumin

  Ovalbumin is the main protein in an egg white. When you cook an egg, its shape changes and it turns from clear to white.

  Food, energy, and growth AlphaFold DB model v6 for UniProt P01012, from Fold Commons' snapshot of 2026-10-04. A prediction, not an experiment. Picture: AlphaFold DB model v6, CC BY 4.0
• 

  Cytochrome c

  Cytochrome c hands off electrons inside the parts of your cell that make most of its energy. Without it, a cell loses most of its energy supply.

  Inside the cell AlphaFold DB model v6 for UniProt P99999, from Fold Commons' snapshot of 2026-10-04. A prediction, not an experiment. Picture: AlphaFold DB model v6, CC BY 4.0
• 

  ATP synthase

  ATP synthase is a real spinning motor inside your cells. Each full turn builds three new pellets of ATP fuel.

  Inside the cell AlphaFold DB model v6 for UniProt P06576, from Fold Commons' snapshot of 2026-10-04. A prediction, not an experiment. Picture: AlphaFold DB model v6, CC BY 4.0
• 

  Tubulin

  Tubulin snaps together into long hollow tubes. Those tubes are the rails your cell uses to move things around.

  Inside the cell AlphaFold DB model v6 for UniProt Q71U36, from Fold Commons' snapshot of 2026-10-04. A prediction, not an experiment. Picture: AlphaFold DB model v6, CC BY 4.0
• 

  p53

  p53 is a safety switch. When DNA gets damaged, p53 builds up and switches on genes that stop the cell from dividing, or that make the cell self-destruct.

  Structure & function of proteins AlphaFold DB model v6 for UniProt P04637, from Fold Commons' snapshot of 2026-10-04. A prediction, not an experiment. Picture: AlphaFold DB model v6, CC BY 4.0
• 

  DNA polymerase

  DNA polymerases copy your DNA before a cell splits. This one, polymerase alpha, starts each new piece of the copy. Other polymerases carry the copying on and fix most mistakes.

  Structure & function of proteins AlphaFold DB model v6 for UniProt P09884, from Fold Commons' snapshot of 2026-10-04. A prediction, not an experiment. Picture: AlphaFold DB model v6, CC BY 4.0
• 

  RNA polymerase II

  This protein reads a gene in your DNA and writes a matching RNA copy. The cell uses that copy to build a protein.

  Structure & function of proteins AlphaFold DB model v6 for UniProt P24928, from Fold Commons' snapshot of 2026-10-04. A prediction, not an experiment. Picture: AlphaFold DB model v6, CC BY 4.0
• 

  Histone H3

  Histones are spools that DNA wraps around. Without them, your DNA would not fit inside the cell.

  Structure & function of proteins AlphaFold DB model v6 for UniProt P68431, from Fold Commons' snapshot of 2026-10-04. A prediction, not an experiment. Picture: AlphaFold DB model v6, CC BY 4.0
• 

  Ribosomal protein S6

  A ribosome is a tiny factory that builds proteins. S6 is one bolt that holds the factory together.

  Inside the cell AlphaFold DB model v6 for UniProt P62753, from Fold Commons' snapshot of 2026-10-04. A prediction, not an experiment. Picture: AlphaFold DB model v6, CC BY 4.0
• 

  CRISPR Cas9

  Cas9 is a scissors protein that bacteria use against viruses. Scientists turned it into a tool to edit DNA on purpose.

  Structure & function of proteins AlphaFold DB model v6 for UniProt Q99ZW2, from Fold Commons' snapshot of 2026-10-04. A prediction, not an experiment. Picture: AlphaFold DB model v6, CC BY 4.0
• 

  SARS-CoV-2 spike

  The spike is the crown on the coronavirus. It locks onto a protein on your cells so the virus can sneak in.

  Structure & function of proteins AlphaFold DB model v1 for UniProt P0DTC2, from Fold Commons' snapshot of 2026-10-04. A prediction, not an experiment. Picture: AlphaFold DB model v1, CC BY 4.0
• 

  ACE2

  ACE2 sits on the outside of your cells and helps control blood pressure. It is also where the COVID virus's spike sticks.

  Body as a system AlphaFold DB model v6 for UniProt Q9BYF1, from Fold Commons' snapshot of 2026-10-04. A prediction, not an experiment. Picture: AlphaFold DB model v6, CC BY 4.0
• 

  Rhodopsin

  Rhodopsin sits in the back of your eye. When light hits it, it bends, and that bend starts a signal that travels to your brain.

  Body as a system AlphaFold DB model v6 for UniProt P08100, from Fold Commons' snapshot of 2026-10-04. A prediction, not an experiment. Picture: AlphaFold DB model v6, CC BY 4.0
• 

  Aquaporin-1

  Aquaporins are water channels in the thin membrane around your cells. They let water rush in and out without letting salt or sugar through.

  Body as a system AlphaFold DB model v6 for UniProt P29972, from Fold Commons' snapshot of 2026-10-04. A prediction, not an experiment. Picture: AlphaFold DB model v6, CC BY 4.0
• 

  Dopamine D2 receptor

  This protein catches a brain signal called dopamine. The signal matters for movement and reward.

  Body as a system AlphaFold DB model v6 for UniProt P14416, from Fold Commons' snapshot of 2026-10-04. A prediction, not an experiment. Picture: AlphaFold DB model v6, CC BY 4.0
• 

  Acetylcholinesterase

  Your nerves send a signal called acetylcholine to your muscles. This enzyme chops it back up so the signal turns off.

  Body as a system AlphaFold DB model v6 for UniProt P22303, from Fold Commons' snapshot of 2026-10-04. A prediction, not an experiment. Picture: AlphaFold DB model v6, CC BY 4.0
• 

  Hexokinase

  Hexokinase is the first step when your cell burns sugar for energy. It tags glucose so it cannot escape the cell.

  Food, energy, and growth AlphaFold DB model v6 for UniProt P19367, from Fold Commons' snapshot of 2026-10-04. A prediction, not an experiment. Picture: AlphaFold DB model v6, CC BY 4.0
• 

  GLUT4 (glucose transporter)

  GLUT4 is a sugar door on your muscle and fat cells. After you eat, insulin's signal brings more of these doors up to the cell's surface.

  Body as a system AlphaFold DB model v6 for UniProt P14672, from Fold Commons' snapshot of 2026-10-04. A prediction, not an experiment. Picture: AlphaFold DB model v6, CC BY 4.0
• 

  Sodium-potassium pump

  This pump uses fuel to push sodium out of your cell and pull potassium in. Your nerves and muscles need this gap to work.

  Body as a system AlphaFold DB model v6 for UniProt P05023, from Fold Commons' snapshot of 2026-10-04. A prediction, not an experiment. Picture: AlphaFold DB model v6, CC BY 4.0
• 

  CFTR

  CFTR is a salt channel on lung and gut cells. A broken CFTR causes cystic fibrosis, a lung and digestion disease.

  Structure & function of proteins AlphaFold DB model v6 for UniProt P13569, from Fold Commons' snapshot of 2026-10-04. A prediction, not an experiment. Picture: AlphaFold DB model v6, CC BY 4.0
• 

  Tyrosinase

  Tyrosinase makes the brown pigment in your skin, hair, and eyes. Different gene versions make different amounts.

  Structure & function of proteins AlphaFold DB model v6 for UniProt P14679, from Fold Commons' snapshot of 2026-10-04. A prediction, not an experiment. Picture: AlphaFold DB model v6, CC BY 4.0
• 

  Lactoferrin

  Lactoferrin in milk and tears holds on tightly to iron, so germs nearby get less of it. Germs need iron to grow, so this slows them down.

  Body as a system AlphaFold DB model v6 for UniProt P02788, from Fold Commons' snapshot of 2026-10-04. A prediction, not an experiment. Picture: AlphaFold DB model v6, CC BY 4.0
• 

  Beta-lactoglobulin

  This is the main whey protein in cow milk. It is one of the proteins that some people are allergic to.

  Food, energy, and growth AlphaFold DB model v6 for UniProt P02754, from Fold Commons' snapshot of 2026-10-04. A prediction, not an experiment. Picture: AlphaFold DB model v6, CC BY 4.0

• Silk fibroin

  Silkworms spin their cocoon out of fibroin. It packs into tight sheets, which is why silk thread is so strong.

  Inside the cell UniProt P05790. AlphaFold DB has no model for this protein.
• 

  Antifreeze protein (type I)

  Some fish in icy water make this protein. It sticks to tiny ice crystals so they cannot grow big enough to hurt the fish.

  Structure & function of proteins AlphaFold DB model v6 for UniProt P04002, from Fold Commons' snapshot of 2026-10-04. A prediction, not an experiment. Picture: AlphaFold DB model v6, CC BY 4.0
• 

  Firefly luciferase

  Luciferase is the enzyme that makes a firefly's tail glow. It helps a chemical called luciferin react with oxygen, using ATP fuel, and that reaction gives off light.

  Inside the cell AlphaFold DB model v6 for UniProt P08659, from Fold Commons' snapshot of 2026-10-04. A prediction, not an experiment. Picture: AlphaFold DB model v6, CC BY 4.0
• 

  Alpha-crystallin A

  This protein packs tightly into your eye lens so it stays clear. As we get older, it slowly tangles, and lenses can cloud over.

  Body as a system AlphaFold DB model v6 for UniProt P02489, from Fold Commons' snapshot of 2026-10-04. A prediction, not an experiment. Picture: AlphaFold DB model v6, CC BY 4.0
• 

  Hemagglutinin (H1N1 flu)

  Hemagglutinin is the spike on flu viruses. It sticks to cells in your nose and throat, which lets the virus get in.

  Structure & function of proteins AlphaFold DB model v1 for UniProt P03452, from Fold Commons' snapshot of 2026-10-04. A prediction, not an experiment. Picture: AlphaFold DB model v1, CC BY 4.0
• 

  RuBisCO

  RuBisCO is how plants take carbon out of the air to build sugar. It is part of the engine of photosynthesis.

  Food, energy, and growth AlphaFold DB model v6 for UniProt P00875, from Fold Commons' snapshot of 2026-10-04. A prediction, not an experiment. Picture: AlphaFold DB model v6, CC BY 4.0
• 

  Aldolase A

  Aldolase is a sugar-cutter. It splits a six-carbon sugar in half so your cells can keep pulling energy out of it.

  Food, energy, and growth AlphaFold DB model v6 for UniProt P04075, from Fold Commons' snapshot of 2026-10-04. A prediction, not an experiment. Picture: AlphaFold DB model v6, CC BY 4.0
• 

  Growth hormone

  Growth hormone is a signal from a small gland just below your brain. Your body releases most of it during sleep, and it helps you grow taller.

  Body as a system AlphaFold DB model v6 for UniProt P01241, from Fold Commons' snapshot of 2026-10-04. A prediction, not an experiment. Picture: AlphaFold DB model v6, CC BY 4.0

Card art is a Fold Commons placeholder; illustrated cards in the Spark & Anvil house style land as they are produced. This guide is a warm-up — the science lives in the 3D explorer.