NEWS  – The 2024 Nobel Prize in Chemistry has been awarded to David Baker, Demis Hassabis, and John M Jumper.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Their contributions involve groundbreaking advancements in protein design and protein structure prediction.
• The winners’ work integrates biological sciences and artificial intelligence, marking a significant step forward in these fields.

Why Proteins Matter

• Proteins are fundamental to nearly all biological processes.
• They are involved in essential functions such as oxygen transport (via hemoglobin) and glucose absorption (via insulin).
• Understanding proteins is key to advancing human health and addressing diseases at a molecular level.

Work by Demis Hassabis & John M Jumper

• Proteins are constructed from amino acids that fold into a three-dimensional structure, which defines their function.
• Hassabis’s AI company DeepMind developed the AlphaFold model to predict these protein structures.
• After years of refinement, with Jumper’s contributions, AlphaFold achieved a breakthrough by accurately predicting protein structures with high precision.

Work by David Baker

• Baker created Rosetta, a software for predicting protein structures.
• In 1998, Rosetta succeeded in the CASP competition and Baker extended its capabilities to design new proteins from scratch.
• This technology now enables the creation of new proteins with tailored functions for various applications.

Importance of Their Work

• The ability to visualize protein structures enables deeper insights into the workings of life, including the causes of diseases and antibiotic resistance.
• Baker’s and DeepMind’s work is crucial for creating new nanomaterials, targeted pharmaceuticals, and promoting a greener chemical industry.
• This advancement holds promise for faster vaccine development and tackling environmental challenges like plastic degradation.