Protein Engineering seminars

David Baker presents recent advances in designing proteins for functions that natural evolution has not been required to solve. The approach begins with a desired structure or activity and uses deep learning to propose amino acid sequences expected to realise it. The resulting designs are translated into synthetic genes, produced as proteins and tested experimentally. The lecture connects computational design with laboratory characterisation, explaining how the combination can create new molecular functions relevant to medicine, technology and sustainability. Its focus is the construction and evaluation of proteins from scratch, extending the protein-design research recognised by the 2024 chemistry prize.

Life of biological molecules spans time and length scales relevant at atomic to cellular time and length scales. Hence, novel molecular modeling approaches are required to be inherently multi-scale. Here we describe multiple methodologies developed in our laboratory: rapid discrete molecular dynamics simulation algorithm, protein design and structural refinement tools. Using these methodologies, we describe therapeutic strategies to combat this HIV and cancer, as well as design novel approaches for controlling proteins in living cells and organisms.