University of Essex researchers used AI to engineer antibody fragments that function inside human cells to target proteins linked to conditions like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's.
Key facts
- •Researchers converted 672 antibodies into stable intrabodies using AI-powered protein redesign.
- •The study identified electrical charge as the key factor for antibody stability inside human cells.
- •The research was led by Dr. Caitlin O'Shea and Dr. Gareth Wright at the University of Essex.
- •The findings were published in the journal Nature Communications and will be made freely available to other scientists.
- •The project was funded by the MND Association.
Researchers at the University of Essex have developed microscopic antibody fragments, known as intrabodies, designed to function within human cells. By using artificial intelligence to adjust the electrical charge of these molecules, the team created stable fragments capable of attaching to proteins associated with neurodegenerative conditions. This development offers a new approach for studying and potentially treating diseases such as Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and motor neurone disease.
Engineering Stable Intrabodies
Ordinary antibodies typically operate outside of cells, but the research team identified that electrical charge is the primary factor preventing them from remaining stable inside a cellular environment. By utilizing software developed by Nobel Prize winner David Baker, the scientists redesigned 672 different antibodies to possess the correct charge, allowing them to remain stable and functional intracellularly. The researchers believe this method allows existing antibodies, developed over decades of biomedical research, to be adapted for new uses. These redesigned molecules will be made freely available to the scientific community following the publication of the study in Nature Communications.
Potential for Future Treatments
The study, led by Dr. Caitlin O'Shea and Dr. Gareth Wright, aims to address the challenge of interacting with disease-causing proteins in their native environment. These proteins are linked to conditions that cause cognitive impairment, loss of muscle control, and death, affecting over one million people in the UK alone. Dr. Brian Dickie, Chief Scientist at the MND Association, which funded the research, noted that the findings could be combined with emerging gene therapy techniques. This combination may lead to new therapeutic strategies capable of targeting specific molecular processes within neurons.
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This article was independently rewritten by ManyPress editorial AI from reporting originally published by ScienceDaily.
