Protein science breakthroughs win the 2024 Nobel Prize in Chemistry

Proteins, often described as life's ingenious chemical tools, are built from 20 amino acids that can be combined in endless ways. These combinations fold into unique three-dimensional structures, determining the proteins' functions—from building muscles and feathers to acting as hormones and antibodies.

David Baker: Crafting proteins from scratch

At the turn of the millennium, David Baker embarked on a mission many deemed impossible: designing entirely new proteins. Using his computer software Rosetta, initially developed to predict protein structures from amino acid sequences, Baker reversed the process. His team input desired protein structures into Rosetta, which then suggested amino acid sequences capable of forming those structures.

This innovative approach, known as de novo design, led to the creation of Top7—the first protein with a structure entirely different from any existing in nature. Comprising 93 amino acids, Top7 was larger than any protein previously produced through de novo design. This achievement was a bolt from the blue for the scientific community, proving that custom-designed proteins with novel functions were within reach.

Since then, Baker's group has produced a plethora of imaginative protein creations. These include proteins that can serve as pharmaceuticals, vaccines, nanomaterials, and tiny sensors, opening new frontiers in medicine and technology.

Demis Hassabis and John M. Jumper: Decoding the protein puzzle with AI

For over 50 years, predicting a protein's three-dimensional structure from its amino acid sequence was a monumental challenge. Enter Demis Hassabis and John M. Jumper, who in 2020 unveiled AlphaFold2, an artificial intelligence model that solved this longstanding problem.

AlphaFold2 has revolutionised biology by calculating the structures of virtually all 200 million proteins discovered during the mapping of Earth's organisms. Remarkably, what once took years of painstaking laboratory work can now be accomplished in mere minutes. By October 2024, over two million researchers from 190 countries had utilised AlphaFold2, making it an invaluable tool in scientific exploration.

The AI model doesn't just predict structures; it also estimates the reliability of its predictions, guiding researchers in their work. This has led to advancements in understanding antibiotic resistance, designing enzymes that can decompose plastic, and exploring countless other scientific applications.

A new era in protein science

The combined achievements of Baker, Hassabis, and Jumper herald a new era in protein science. Their work allows us not only to predict protein structures with unprecedented accuracy but also to design new proteins with bespoke functions. This holds enormous potential for developing novel treatments for diseases, creating sustainable materials, and much more.

As the Nobel Committee aptly summarised: "Life could not exist without proteins. That we can now predict protein structures and design our own proteins confers the greatest benefit to humankind."

Implications for the future

The ability to design and predict protein structures accelerates research in drug development, biotechnology, and understanding fundamental life processes. With tools like Rosetta and AlphaFold2 becoming increasingly accessible—Google DeepMind has made AlphaFold2's code publicly available—the scientific community is poised to tackle some of the most pressing challenges of our time.

Conclusion

The 2024 Nobel Prize in Chemistry celebrates not just individual achievements but a transformative shift in how we understand and manipulate the building blocks of life. Through computational ingenuity and artificial intelligence, David Baker, Demis Hassabis, and John M. Jumper have opened doors to innovations that were once the realm of science fiction.

As we stand on the cusp of these exciting developments, the world eagerly anticipates the next breakthroughs that will emerge from these pioneering techniques.

 

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