AI-powered platforms predict proteins that undergo phase separation

Summary

From left: Dr Liang Qiyu, research fellow at the Institute for Digital Molecular Analytics and Science at NTU, and Professor Miao Yansong. Credit: NTU Singapore. Scientists at Nanyang Technological University, Singapore (NTU Singapore) have developed two artificial intelligence (AI)-powered platforms that could enable researchers to more accurately predict proteins that undergo phase separation – a process through which proteins in cells separate like oil droplets in water. The tools are the result of a systematic analysis of predicted phase-separating proteins from various living things, including animals, plants, fungi and single-celled organisms such as bacteria. From their analyses, the scientists also uncovered fundamental insights about the phase separation process. Led by Professor Miao Yansong from the School of Biological Sciences and the Institute for Digital Molecular Analytics and Science (IDMxS) at NTU, in collaboration with Professor Weibo Gao from NTU’s School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, the research could be applied to advance the understanding of diseases and ageing, as well as to improve crops. Both AI platforms and their research findings have been reported in the peer-reviewed journal Molecular Plant . Predicting which proteins separate Phase-separating proteins separate from their surroundings and concentrate into droplet-like compartments, enabling cells to bring molecules together, accelerate or suppress reactions to respond rapidly to stress. When phase separation is altered, these proteins can form abnormal condensates or aggregates, which are associated with diseases, including cancer and neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease. In plants, changes in phase separation are linked to impaired stress responses and lowered immunity against microbial pathogens. Identifying proteins that undergo phase separation and determining how this behaviour is regulated are important for applications ranging from biomedical research on diseases and ageing to devising approaches for sustainable agriculture. However, accurate prediction remains challenging because phase-separating proteins assemble dynamically into complex structures and interact with numerous cellular components. Addressing these challenges requires comprehensive experimental datasets and systems-level information across diverse organisms. In addition, m…