Edge 442: If You Thought DeepMind's AlphaFold was Impressive, Wait Until You Learn About AlphaProteo
DeepMind's new model pushes the boundaries of protein design.
Google DeepMind has been at the forefront of using AI for protein design for the last decade. DeepMind’s AlphaFold model set new milestones in protein design and its been widely adopted by the research community. Beyond the structure of proteins, one key area of research is their interactions patterns which are essential to understanding functions required in drug development. To address this challenge, scientists have created proteins that “bind” to specific molecules streamlining that manipulation process. DeepMind doubled down in this area with the recent publication of AlphaProteo, an AI model poised to transform protein binder design.
Proteins, the workhorses of biology, interact in a delicate dance, dictating countless cellular processes. The ability to design proteins that bind specific targets, termed “protein binders,” opens doors in research, diagnostics, and therapeutics. Imagine blocking a disease-causing protein interaction or directing an enzyme to a specific cellular location — the possibilities are vast.