Perutz Lecture 2021: The coming of age of de novo protein design - David Baker

MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology Max Perutz Seminar 2021
The coming of age of de novo protein design
Speaker: Professor David Baker, Director of the Institute for Protein Design, University of Washington, USA
Abstract:
Proteins mediate the critical processes of life and beautifully solve the challenges faced during the evolution of modern organisms. Our goal is to design a new generation of proteins that address current-day problems not faced during evolution. In contrast to traditional protein engineering efforts, which have focused on modifying naturally occurring proteins, we design new proteins from scratch based on Anfinsen’s principle that proteins fold to their global free energy minimum. We compute amino acid sequences predicted to fold into proteins with new structures and functions, produce synthetic genes encoding these sequences, and characterize them experimentally. SARS-COV2 provided a test of the relevance of these methods to real-world challenges.
In this talk, I will describe the de novo design of SARS-COV2 candidate diagnostics, therapeutics, and vaccines: designed switches which luminesce in the presence of antiviral antibodies, designed 55 residue proteins that bind to the Spike with picomolar affinity and block viral infection, and nanoparticle immunogens which elicit much higher yields of neutralizing antibodies in animals than the Spike trimer that is the basis of most current vaccine trials. I will close by describing the status of getting these into the clinic, and lessons for combatting future pandemics.
Read more about the lecture and David's work here: www2.mrc-lmb.c...
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About the MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology (LMB):
The LMB is one of the world's leading research institutes. Discoveries and inventions developed at the LMB, for example DNA sequencing and methods to determine the structure of proteins, have revolutionised all areas of biology. Its scientists work to advance understanding of biological processes at the molecular level. This information will help us to understand the workings of complex systems, such as the immune system and the brain, and solve key problems in human health.
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[@aNDY-y7u4m]

Intro lasts until 4:14 , skip if you're busy

[@scientistmusician]

I’m so happy you found it useful 😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊

[@scientistmusician]

😊😊😊😊😊😊😊

[@Rajeshammm]

interesting lecture but I know about these work before