Latest
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Biologically active 2D arrays
Today we report the design of a new class of protein material that interacts with living cells without being absorbed by them. These large, flat arrays built from multiple protein parts can influence cell signaling by clustering and anchoring cell surface receptors. This breakthrough could have far-reaching implications for stem cell research and enable the…
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De novo minibinders target SARS-CoV-2 Spike protein
Today we report in Science [PDF] the design of small proteins that protect cells from SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. In experiments involving lab-grown human cells, the activity of the lead antiviral candidate produced (LCB1) was found to rival that of the best-known SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing antibodies. LCB1 is currently being evaluated in rodents. This…
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Selective ion channels designed from scratch
This week we report in Nature [PDF] the design of new transmembrane proteins that allow cells to take in certain chemicals, including charged ions and larger fluorescent molecules. This research could enable new forms of drug delivery and allow for better control over the electrical activity of living cells. All cells are studded with tiny protein…
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Introducing Co-LOCKR: designed protein logic for cell targeting
In a new paper [PDF] appearing in Science, a team of IPD researchers together with colleagues at UW Medicine and Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center demonstrate a new way to precisely target cells — including those that look almost exactly like their neighbors. They designed nanoscale devices made of synthetic proteins that target a therapeutic agent only to…
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De novo nanoparticles as vaccine scaffolds
IPD researchers have developed a new vaccine design strategy that could confer improved immunity against certain viruses, including those that cause AIDS, the flu, and COVID-19. Using this technique, viral antigens are attached to the surface of self-assembling, de novo designed protein nanoparticles. This enables an unprecedented level of control over the molecular configuration of the resulting…
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Rosetta’s role in fighting coronavirus
To follow updates on our COVID-19 research, visit ipd.uw.edu/coronavirus
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De novo design of protein logic gates
The same basic tools that allow computers to function are now being used to control life at the molecular level, with implications for future medicines and synthetic biology. Together with collaborators, we have created artificial proteins that function as molecular logic gates. These tools, like their electronic counterparts, can be used to program the behavior of…
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Designing shape-shifting proteins
Today we report the design of protein sequences that adopt more than one well-folded structure, reminiscent of viral fusion proteins. This research moves us closer to creating artificial protein systems with reliable moving parts. In nature, many proteins change shape in response to their environment. This plasticity is often linked to biological function. While computational…