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AI-designed proteins built from scratch can recognize specific compounds

Professor Gyu Rie Lee of the Department of Biological Sciences successfully designed artificial proteins that selectively recognize specific compounds using AI through joint research with Professor David Baker. The research, published in the journal Nature Communications, is characterized by using AI to design proteins that recognize specific compounds from scratch (de novo) and implementing them as functional biosensors.

While the conventional approach mainly involved searching for natural proteins or modifying some of their functions, this research is highly significant in that it “custom-built” proteins with desired functions through AI-based design and even completed experimental verification.

In particular, the research team successfully designed a protein that selectively recognizes the stress hormone cortisol and implemented an AI-designed biosensor based on it. This is evaluated as a case that extends beyond protein design to actual measurable sensor technology, solving the long-standing challenge of small-molecule recognition in the field of protein design.

Novel gene-based therapy helps nerves heal better after severe injury

Peripheral nerve injuries, often caused by traumatic events such as car accidents, falls or battlefield injuries, can leave patients with long-term weakness, numbness or loss of function. Despite surgery and advances in understanding and treating nerve injuries, many patients don’t get all their movement or feeling back.

Researchers at The Ohio State University College of Medicine and College of Engineering developed a new way to improve healing after severe nerve injuries by helping the body grow new blood vessels where the nerve is repairing itself. The new approach combines nerve graft surgery with tissue nanotransfection (TNT), a novel non-viral gene therapy developed at The Ohio State University.

Scientists used TNT to deliver three specific genes (Etv2, Fli1 and Foxc2) that tell cells to help form new blood vessels. These genes were applied via a very quick electrical pulse to nerve grafts used during surgery in mice with severe nerve injuries.

Your DNA has a secret “second code” that decides which genes get silenced

However, research is increasingly showing that these so-called synonymous codons are not truly equal. Some codons make mRNA molecules more stable and easier for cells to translate into proteins, making them more efficient. Others, considered non-optimal, lead to weaker translation and are more likely to be broken down. Until now, scientists have not fully understood how human cells recognize and respond to these less efficient codons.

Scientists Search for the Cell’s “Quality Control” System

To investigate this question, a research team from Kyoto University and RIKEN, led by Osamu Takeuchi and Takuhiro Ito, carried out a series of experiments aimed at uncovering how cells handle codon efficiency.

Avihu28/Quantum-Safe-Bitcoin-Transactions: A way to enable Quantum Safe Bitcoin transactions that is available today

The Cost: You don’t need a supercomputer to stay safe. A standard off-chain GPU and a few hundred dollars can “harden” your transaction against a multi-billion dollar quantum machine.

A way to enable Quantum Safe Bitcoin transactions that is available today. — avihu28/Quantum-Safe-Bitcoin-Transactions.

AI can design and run thousands of lab experiments without human hands. Humanity isn’t ready for the new risks this brings to biology

Faster protein engineering could mean faster responses to emerging infections and cheaper drugs.

The dual-use problem

Researchers have raised concerns that these same AI tools could be misused, a challenge known as the dual-use problem: Technologies developed for beneficial purposes can also be repurposed to cause harm.

TRUE-MOGAD ScoreA Novel Scoring System to Identify MOGAD Among Positive MOG-IgG Test Results

This study shows that a TRUE-MOGAD score of 2 or more accurately predicts MOGAD in patients with MOG-IgG titers of 1:20 or higher using the described assay. Read more.

Myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG) antibodies (MOG-IgG) are a biomarker of MOG antibody-associated disease (MOGAD). However, false positives remain common. We aimed to develop a scoring tool to guide interpretation.

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