AI conjures proteins that speed up chemical reactions

Originally published by Ian Haydon, University of Washington, February 22,2023

 

An artist's imaginative conception of the idea of light-emitting enzymes. Credit: Ian Haydon / Institute for Protein Design

For the first time, scientists have used machine learning to create brand-new enzymes, which are proteins that accelerate chemical reactions. This is an important step in the field of protein design, as new enzymes could have many uses across medicine and industrial manufacturing.

"Living organisms are remarkable chemists. Rather than relying on toxic compounds or extreme heat, they use enzymes to break down or build up whatever they need under gentle conditions. New enzymes could put renewable chemicals and biofuels within reach," said senior author David Baker, professor of biochemistry at the University of Washington School of Medicine and recipient of the 2021 Breakthrough Prize in Life Sciences.

Original article 

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