Two projects at the University of California, Davis, who use artificial intelligence to design and design protein for industrial and health applications have been funded by the US National Foundation (NSF).
The grants are part of an investment of $ 32 million in AI and the protein engineering announced on August 7 by the NSF (NSF) technology, innovation and collaboration. Both teams are linked to the UC Davis Food and Health Institute in collaboration with industry partners. Total funding at UC Davis will be about $ 1 million for three years.
The two grants are among the five announced by NSF, which aim to accelerate the translation of AI -based approaches to protein design and to allow new applications of significant importance for US bio -economy as part of the UPRD acceleration (NSF USPRD).
These efforts are aiming to unlock new uses for this technology in biomass, advanced materials and other critical industries. Simply put, the NSF USPRD represents a strategic investment for the maintenance of American leadership in biotechnology in a time of intense global competition. “
Erwin Gianchandani, Assistant NSF Manager for Tip
AI technology has recently allowed rapid progress in predicting the 3D protein structures and the use of this knowledge to design new proteins with specific, desirable features. NSF’s investment seeks to exploit this institution by gathering experts at national level, extending these progress to enzyme design and accelerating the translation of this project into extensive real world applications.
Acrylic enzymes
Acrylics are expensive molecules used in colors, plexiglass and hyper-absorbing materials. This project in collaboration with Arzeda, a Seattle -based biotechnology company, aims to convert acrylic production with the mechanical new enzymes for rapid, affordable, scalable production.
This project has the potential to accelerate the commercialization of advanced mechanical protein, driving innovation and growth in the US bio -economy, with benefits for both sectors and consumers. UC Davis activities will be guided by Ashley Vater (Genome Center) with Professor Justin Siegel (Departments of Chemistry and Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine and IIFH School Manager).
Complementing the research goals inspired by the use of the project, UC Davis will promote the extension of planning to data, a student training program in protein design, bringing this project to the hands of thousands of students at national level.
“Every student in the biological sciences should have the opportunity to explore protein design – it is a rapidly evolving field with important development space.
Reproduction of human milk
Human milk contains complex sugars (human milk oligosaccharides or HMOS) that are essential for infant health and growth, but are difficult to produce. In collaboration with Novozymes based in Davis, this project will use advanced mechanical enzyme, mechanical learning and composition of protein without cells to develop and optimize tools for the synthesis of these oligosaccharides. This project aims to overcome the challenges in the production of infant formula and supports the development of new enzymatic systems with commercial properties for wider human health and nutrition applications.
Siegel will lead the UC Davis section of the three -year work.
