2023/06/16

SEMINAR HIGHLIGHT: The Revolutionary Use of Artificial Intelligence in Protein Design and Engineering

The integration of AI in protein design and engineering has the potential to revolutionize the challenge approach in chemical synthesis. This technology offers cost advantages and a real impact by accelerating the development and improvement of key industrial processes.

Gonzalo Jiménez-Osés, Ikerbasque Principal Investigator at the "Computational Chemistry Laboratory," delivered a seminar at CIC bioGUNE - a member of BRTA - highlighting the significant advances in computational methodology and artificial intelligence tools that enable the creation of functional proteins from scratch with unprecedented precision.

The use of artificial intelligence (AI) in protein design and engineering is revolutionizing how we approach challenges in chemical synthesis and protein engineering. This methodology, driven by significant advancements in computing power and machine learning algorithms, offers notable advantages in terms of cost-effectiveness, with a tangible impact on the industry.

Traditionally, protein design and engineering relied on more traditional approaches that involved modifying existing proteins found in nature. However, these approaches had limitations in terms of efficiency and precision. AI has overcome these limitations by providing tools and algorithms that enable the design and engineering of proteins from scratch, quickly and accurately.

One of the key advantages of using artificial intelligence in protein design and engineering is the ability to explore a broader and more complex sequence space. AI can analyze and learn from large amounts of structural and sequential data from existing proteins, enabling the identification of patterns and underlying physical principles that govern protein stability and functionality. This information is used to design entirely new proteins with desired properties and functions.

In comparison to traditional approaches, the AI algorithms can quickly evaluate a wide range of protein design possibilities, optimizing properties such as stability, catalytic activity, and interaction with other molecules. This accelerates the process of discovering and developing new proteins with specific characteristics, saving time and resources compared to conventional trial-and-error approaches.

In chemical synthesis, AI has enabled the design of custom enzymes that catalyze specific and highly efficient reactions. These enzymes could replace traditional chemical catalysts, reducing the use of toxic substances and waste generated during chemical production. Additionally, by designing proteins with improved properties such as thermal stability, more efficient and sustainable chemical processes can be developed. This implies lower energy and resource consumption, resulting in cost reduction and a smaller environmental footprint.

In the field of protein engineering, for example, proteins have been designed to act as biological sensors, capable of detecting and responding to specific substances in clinical or environmental settings. These biosensors can be used for early disease diagnosis, detecting contaminants in water, or monitoring air quality, among other applications. By designing these proteins precisely and in a controlled manner, greater sensitivity and selectivity in detection can be achieved, enhancing the efficiency and accuracy of analyses.

Furthermore, AI-driven protein design could also have an impact on the production of medications and personalized therapies. By designing therapeutic proteins with greater stability and specific binding capacity, more effective drugs with fewer side effects could be developed. This would enhance treatment efficacy and reduce costs associated with clinical trials and drug development.

About CIC bioGUNE

The Centre for Cooperative Research in Biosciences (CIC bioGUNE), member of the Basque Research & Technology Alliance (BRTA), located in the Bizkaia Technology Park, is a biomedical research organisation conducting cutting-edge research at the interface between structural, molecular and cell biology, with a particular focus on generating knowledge on the molecular bases of disease, for use in the development of new diagnostic methods and advanced therapies.

About Ikerbasque

Ikerbasque - Basque Foundation for Science - is the result of an initiative of the Department of Education of the Basque Government that aims to reinforce the commitment to scientific research by attracting, recovering and consolidating excellent researchers from all over the world. Currently, it is a consolidated organization that has 290 researchers/s, who develop their work in all fields of knowledge.

About BRTA

BRTA is an alliance of 4 collaborative research centres (CIC bioGUNE, CIC nanoGUNE, CIC biomaGUNE y CIC energiGUNE) and 12 technology centres (Azterlan, Azti, Ceit, Cidetec, Gaiker, Ideko, Ikerlan, Lortek, Neiker, Tecnalia, Tekniker and Vicomtech) with the main objective of developing advanced technological solutions for the Basque corporate fabric.

With the support of the Basque Government, the SPRI Group and the Provincial Councils of the three territories, the alliance seeks to promote collaboration between the research centres, strengthen the conditions to generate and transfer knowledge to companies, contributing to their competitiveness and outspreading the Basque scientific-technological capacity abroad.

BRTA has a workforce of 3,500 professionals, executes 22% of the Basque Country's R&D investment, registers an annual turnover of more than 300 million euros and generates 100 European and international patents per year.

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