AI tools design proteins that cut other proteins
The enzymes were built from scratch and aimed at proteins linked to neurological disease.
Curious#08
10^9
Speed-up in peptide bond cleavage, best cysteine version
Image: Ars Technica
10^9Speed-up in peptide bond cleavage, best cysteine version
The short version
- Researchers used AI protein design tools to build protease enzymes that cut other proteins.
- The work was led mainly by David Baker's lab at the University of Washington.
- The team kept the catalytic core of two protease types and replaced the rest of each protein.
- The designs could be tuned to cut specific proteins in half, and one zinc protease worked on its target in cells.
Why it matters
The work shows AI design tools can build enzymes with a precise catalytic site, not just copy known structures. The researchers suggest this could eventually help target malformed proteins that cause some genetic diseases. The article also notes that delivering proteins to the right place in the body is difficult and can trigger immune responses.
“The resulting enzymes could be tuned to cut specific proteins in half”