Bringing AI-driven protein-design tools to biologists everywhere
Founded by Tristan Bepler PhD ’20 and former MIT professor Tim Lu PhD ’07, OpenProtein.AI offers researchers open-source models and other tools for protein engineering.
Slice and dice
SNIPE, a newly characterized biological defense system, directly protects bacteria by chopping up invading viral DNA.
Study reveals “two-factor authentication” system that controls microRNA destruction
Researchers uncovered how cells selectively destroy certain microRNAs — key gene regulators — through a mechanism that requires two RNA signals working together.
Building the blocks of life
Computational biologist Sergei Kotelnikov is working to develop new methods in protein modeling as part of the School of Science Dean’s Postdoctoral Fellowship.
MIT engineers design proteins by their motion, not just their shape
An AI model generates novel proteins based on how they vibrate and move, opening new possibilities for dynamic biomaterials and adaptive therapeutics.
CryoPRISM: A new tool for observing cellular machinery in a more natural environment
The method allows researchers to observe biomolecular complexes in a quick, accurate, and budget-friendly way, providing new insights into bacterial protein synthesis.
Cancer’s secret safety net
Researchers uncover a hidden mechanism that allows cancer to develop aggressive mutations.
RNA editing study finds many ways for neurons to diversify
Tracking how fruit fly motor neurons edit their RNA, neurobiologists cataloged hundreds of target sites and varying editing rates, finding many edits altered communication- and function-related proteins.
MIT researchers find new immunotherapeutic targets for glioblastoma
A study profiling antigens presented on immune and tumor cells in co-culture points to new strategies for attacking a treatment-resistant and deadly brain cancer.
Alternate proteins from the same gene contribute differently to health and rare disease
New findings may help researchers identify genetic mutations that contribute to rare diseases, by studying when and how single genes produce multiple versions of proteins.
MIT scientists debut a generative AI model that could create molecules addressing hard-to-treat diseases
BoltzGen generates protein binders for any biological target from scratch, expanding AI’s reach from understanding biology toward engineering it.
A new way to understand and predict gene splicing
The KATMAP model, developed by researchers in the Department of Biology, can predict alternative cell splicing, which allows cells to create endless diversity from the same sets of genetic blueprints.
Designing better, longer-lasting medicines
Adding amino acids to certain protein-based medications can improve stability and effectiveness. New MIT research demonstrates how it works.
Matthew Shoulders named head of the Department of Chemistry
A leading researcher in protein folding biochemistry and next-generation protein engineering techniques will advance chemistry research and education.
3 Questions: On biology and medicine’s “data revolution”
Professor Caroline Uhler discusses her work at the Schmidt Center, thorny problems in math, and the ongoing quest to understand some of the most complex interactions in biology.