Scientists Use AI to Shrink Proteins, Expanding Gene Therapy

Scientists at Duke University made a computer program called Raygun that can make proteins smaller or bigger.

It learns from millions of protein sequences, like a language model learns from books.

Raygun can quickly create new protein versions in about a third of a second.

The team tested it on proteins from 147 to 2,549 building blocks, and it could shrink the biggest ones by more than 500 blocks while keeping their shape.

They also made tiny glowing proteins that work in human cells, some as small as 199 blocks.

The new proteins are a bit dimmer than the best lab ones, and scientists are still figuring out which changes stay good after the AI edits.

This could help make gene therapies cheaper and more effective by fitting bigger genes into smaller delivery vehicles.

The researchers also said they follow Responsible AI for Biodesign principles to keep the technology safe.

They are working on making the glowing proteins brighter and understanding how the AI changes affect protein function.