The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry 2024 to David Baker, Demis Hassabis and John M. Jumper for their fundamental contributions to understanding and designing proteins. Their research, independent but complementary, led to an epochal turning point in molecular biologyopening new avenues for scientific research and the development of innovative technologies.
BREAKING NEWS
The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences has decided to award the 2024 #NobelPrize in Chemistry with one half to David Baker “for computational protein design” and the other half jointly to Demis Hassabis and John M. Jumper “for protein structure prediction.” pic.twitter.com/gYrdFFcD4T— The Nobel Prize (@NobelPrize) October 9, 2024
David Baker, professor of biochemistry atUniversity of Washingtonwas honored for his pioneering work in computational design of proteins. His research group has developed algorithms capable of “inventing” new proteins with specific functions, which can be used as drugs, vaccines, nanomaterials and biosensors.
Demis Hassabis and John M. Jumper, CEO and senior researcher respectively of Google DeepMindthey received the Nobel Prize for the creation of AlphaFoldan artificial intelligence that has revolutionized the field of structural biology. AlphaFold is capable of predict the three-dimensional structure of proteins with extraordinary accuracy starting from their amino acid sequence, a task that for decades has represented a formidable challenge for science.
The challenge of protein structure
Proteins are macromolecules essential for life, responsible for a myriad of biological functions. Their three-dimensional structure, determined by the sequence of amino acids, is crucial for their activity. Unraveling this structure is fundamental to understanding the functioning of proteins and to developing new biotechnological applications.
Until recently, determining the structure of proteins required complex and expensive techniques, such as X-ray crystallography and NMR spectroscopy. These methods, in addition to being expensive in terms of time and resources, are not always applicable to all proteins.
AlphaFold: a revolution in structural biology
AlphaFold has fundamentally changed the landscape of structural biology. Thanks to a sophisticated deep learning algorithm, this AI is able to predict the structure of proteins with an accuracy comparable to that of experimental methods, but much quicker and at lower costs.
In 2021, DeepMind made public the AlphaFold database, which contains the structure of over 200 million proteins, representing an invaluable resource for the scientific community. This database has accelerated research in several fields, from medicine to the development of new materials.
Applications and future prospects
The potential applications of AlphaFold are vast. In medicine, it can contribute to the design of new drugs and vaccines, to the understanding of the molecular basis of diseases and to the development of personalized therapies. In the environmental field, it can be used to study enzymes capable of degrading plastic and to develop biofuels.
The 2024 Nobel Prize in Chemistry recognizes the fundamental importance of this research for the progress of science and society. AlphaFold represents an emblematic example of how artificial intelligence can be used to address complex scientific challenges and contribute to the well-being of humanity.
Follow us on Telegram | Instagram | Facebook | TikTok | Youtube
