ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Conformational dynamics data bank

Imagine you have a toy that can be twisted and turned in different ways, like a Rubik's Cube. Now imagine that instead of a toy, you have a molecule - a tiny thing that is too small to see with your eyes - that can also be twisted and turned in different ways. We call these different twists and turns "conformations".

Scientists want to learn about these different conformations of molecules because it can help them understand how the molecule works in your body. For example, if a certain molecule is involved in a disease, understanding its different conformations could help scientists develop a medicine to treat the disease.

To help scientists study these different conformations, they create something called a "conformational dynamics data bank". This is like a big library where scientists can go to look at different conformations of molecules that have already been studied. By looking at these different conformations, scientists can start to see patterns and learn more about how the molecules work.

So, the conformational dynamics data bank is a tool that helps scientists study the different ways that tiny molecules can twist and turn in order to understand how they work in our bodies.