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Computer-Designed Proteins Recognize and Bind Small Molecules
vinces99 writes "Computer-designed proteins that can recognize and interact with small biological molecules are now a reality. Scientists have succeeded in creating a protein molecule that can be programmed to unite with three different steroids. The achievement could have far wider ranging applications in medicine and other fields, according to the Protein Design Institute at the University of Washington. 'This is a major step toward building proteins for use as biosensors or molecular sponges, or in synthetic biology — giving organisms new tools to perform a task,' said one of the lead researchers, Christine E. Tinberg, a UW postdoctoral fellow in biochemistry."
If steroids are involved maybe the baseball field???
Karma: Bad
What a clever idea! Instead of making small quite unnatural medicine molecules, how about making quite natural big medicine proteins that bind to various big and small natural targets.
Yes this may be the end of meaningful doping testing, but also the end of cancers and many auto-immune diseases.
Besides mad cow disease is already ancient history. What could possibly go wrong?
Really, proteins can recognize small biological molecules? Here I thought that proteins, like other molecules would react with other molecules in a bio-chemical reaction, but to find out that they can actually recognize other molecules is really amazing!
It would be nice if we could sort left- from right-handed molecules.
An off-planet laboratory seems like an intelligent first move - a lunar-synchronous asteroid perhaps? My imaginary implications mostly point out the need for operational security - at least in practice. Who wants to bio-engineer organisms to transform mars here on earth anyway? Minimizing the oh s%^t factor should be a priority.
The article would have been much more interesting if the author(s) would have elaborated beyond "computer-designed." I mean get real down and nerdy about it! This is Slashdot, don't be shy.
"Computer-designed proteins that can recognize and interact with small biological molecules are now a reality." very much reminds me of alpha-Amanitin, the super-potent poison of the death cap responsible for the vast majority of mushroom related deaths.
In fact, many if not most potent poisons are of the "binds much stronger to some vitally important molecules/enzymes than what should go there" kind.
Buy your tap water from Google, and receive small proteins that program your brain to buy stuff.
If Pandora's box is destined to be opened, *I* want to be the one to open it.
So how come nobody's mentioned the Alien experiments yet?
A more effective bioweapon. Mr. Nobel would be so proud (as in: unintended misery loves company).
I want a microscope like the one in the picture in the article that researcher is using to "... examine in the lab the molecule they designed ..."! He's not even using the highest power objective!
I don't know why all the bother with trying to make atomic scale gears and hands (besides how cool it is) when we can just use the machinery already present. Ever look at the structure of the ion channels in nerve cells? Biomechanical valves! So cool.
it's excellent that we are beginning to understand and build elementary biology and i want to see it go further because of all the good it can do. however, there's a "with great power comes great responsibility" aspect to all of this. we are getting ever closer to the point where this technology will be used to build the newest and deadliest weapon yet. a nuke can wipe out a large chunk of land with an explosion but a devious virus can kill an entire population with a cough.
you might be thinking this post is FUD but there is no uncertainty or doubt that when you invent a new technology, it will (foolishly) be used to make new and deadlier tools of war.
we live in interesting times.
Anons need not reply. Questions end with a question mark.
1) Steroids are notoriously "sticky" molecules - it is like saying the designed a protein that would sitck to scotch tape
2) from the abstract, teh computer design got them a binder, but they had to "optimize" the binder (to somethhing useful) with experiments
A big step foward, but still needs a lot of work to be generally useful
the paper itself is somewhat opaque, but the news and veiws by Ghirlanda is pretty clear.
They used computational methods to graft a digoxegenin binding "site" (a small part of a protein) onto an existing 3D protein structure ; they then tested 17 actual proteins
Of these , 2 bound dig with "micromolar affinity" about 1,000 times less sticky then needed for practical use
They then used non computational methods to get the 1,000 time (and more) increase in stickyness
So, they have usefull (actually pretty good ) stickyness
However, in the body are 100s of steroids - molecules chemically similar to the target (digoxegenin)
stickyness is not usefull unless it is discrimmantory: you have to be able to stick to dig (the target) and not stick to related compounds
The data are in figure 4; figure 4b shows an impressive 100fold discrimmination
So, an impressive achievenement, but still a ways away from useful proteins on demand
Also, in term of use in humans in vivo, they are using an exisitng 3D protein of unkown function from a bacteria; one would predict that if injected into humans, this protein would be highly antigenic, so this approach is unlikely to to result in drugs useful in vivo in humans
'This is a major step toward building proteins for use as biosensors or molecular sponges, or in synthetic biology — giving organisms new tools to perform a task'
I picture little protein workers entering the equivalent of the Industrial Age. Armed with their new fangled drills, excavators and assembly lines!
is this the beginning of the descolada?
WOW! I am blown away! I just read the full UW News release. This is incredible. Graduated in 1979, and this was a sci-fi idea then. Congrads to all involved!