A report this week describes the first synthetic protein assemblies — dubbed synthetic nucleocapsids — that encapsulate their own genome and evolve in complex environments. The lead authors were Gabe Butterfield and Marc Lajoie. Synthetic nucleocapsids are built to resemble viral capsids and could be used in future to deliver therapeutics to specific cells and…

IPD researchers report the computational design of a new world of small cyclic peptides, or “macrocycles”. Natural macrocycles such as cyclosporine are among the most potent therapeutics identified to date, having the benefits of small molecule drugs, like aspirin, and large antibody therapies, like rituximab, with fewer drawbacks. There is considerable interest in expanding this…

In another major leap forward, researchers at the IPD have just published a revolutionary method for generating brand new protein drugs. These new drugs – called “mini-protein binders” – combine the specificity of antibodies with the high stability and manufacturability of small molecule drugs. The new de novo designed mini-protein binders were custom built to target either a…

This summer saw a major advance in protein science: data-driven design. For decades, researchers have been trying to decode the rules of protein folding by studying how the complex, highly specialized proteins in nature hold their shapes. It’s a bit like trying to figure out how an airplane works – at its most fundamental level…