Researchers use AI to design proteins that cut up other proteins

Proteases cut other proteins by holding a few key amino acids in precise positions. Researchers in David Baker's lab took the catalytic cores of a crayfish protease and a yeast protease, then used AI tools RFdiffusion2 and ProteinMPNN to build new enzyme backbones around them. The enzymes can be tuned to cut specific targets, and the team tested them on proteins linked to neurological disease.

Summary written with AI by HowTechMoves, based on reporting by Ars Technica.