AI SCIENCE
Hold the protein
Scientists at the University of Washington have used AI to create new enzymes that can cut specific proteins, a breakthrough that could one day help develop treatments for diseases like Alzheimer's and ALS.
These enzymes, called proteases, work like tiny scissors, cutting proteins into smaller pieces.
They're already used in medicine and manufacturing, but creating new ones that can find and cut an exact target has been difficult.
Led by David Baker, the team used several AI tools, including AlphaFold 3, to design the enzymes, predict their shapes and see whether they could work.
The researchers then tested their creations in the lab...
Some promising results:
13 out of 69 designs of one enzyme type worked, while 36% of 135 designs of another type successfully cut their targets.
After further improvements using AI, the best enzyme became 30 times faster at cutting proteins.
Some enzymes successfully cut proteins linked to Alzheimer's, ALS and other serious conditions, although they haven't been tested in humans.
Scissor me impressed
The findings, published in two Nature studies, show how AI could help scientists develop new medicines and improve processes used in biotechnology and manufacturing.
The job market: Now accepting applications from enzymes. Must have five years of cutting experience.- MG