Google’s AlphaFold 3
Robert Klatt
AlphaFold 3, a new AI from Google DeepMind, can predict the behavior of proteins in the human body. It is a breakthrough in medical research that can improve the treatment of diseases and the development of vaccines.
London (England). There is a scientific theory that the biological processes in the body, including diseases such as cancer, can be better understood by knowing the structure and behavior of their proteins. Google DeepMind, a company specializing in artificial intelligence (AI) research, achieved a breakthrough in protein structure prediction in 2020. A large number of researchers have now used the AlphaFold 2 AI to make significant advances in medicine, including in the development of new vaccines and medications and in cancer treatments.
DeepMind and its subsidiary Isomorphic Labs have now announced a new version of the AI. According to the publication in the specialist magazine Nature AlphaFold 3 can predict the interaction of all proteins with other biomolecules in the cells of the human body. AlphaFold 2, on the other hand, was “only” able to predict three-dimensional protein structures, but could not provide any information about how these interact with other proteins.
“In the interactions of proteins with other types of molecules, we see an improvement of at least 50 percent compared to existing prediction methods, and in some important categories of interactions we have doubled the prediction accuracy.”
Free tool for scientists
Google DeepMind has also announced a free tool for non-commercial researchers. These should be able to use the so-called AlphaFold server to create models of proteins. This means that doctors and biologists can create complex protein structures on the computer in a short time. Besides, has Isomorphic Labs explains that it is working with various pharmaceutical companies to utilize the full possibilities of AI in drug development.
Nature, doi: 10.1038/s41586-024-07487-w