Scientists Behind AI Breakthrough in Protein Structure Prediction Win Nobel Prize in Chemistry
Scientists Behind AI Breakthrough in Protein Structure Prediction Win Nobel Prize in Chemistry (Photo: Nobel Foundation/Wikimedia Commons/CC-BY 4.0 )

The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences awarded the 2024 Nobel Prize in Chemistry on Wednesday to three scientists whose work using artificial intelligence has revolutionized the prediction and design of protein structures, addressing one of biology's most enduring challenges.

Demis Hassabis and John Jumper of Google's DeepMind in London, along with David Baker of the University of Washington, will share the 11 million Swedish kronor ($1 million) prize. The Nobel Committee praised their groundbreaking contributions to computational protein design and protein structure prediction.

Heiner Linke, chair of the Nobel Committee for Chemistry, stated, "One of the discoveries being recognized this year concerns the construction of spectacular proteins. The other is about fulfilling a 50-year-old dream: predicting protein structures from their amino acid sequences. Both of these discoveries open up vast possibilities."

Proteins, composed of sequences of 20 different amino acids, are fundamental to all biological processes. They serve as hormones, antibodies, and structural components of tissues. Understanding their three-dimensional structures is crucial, as it determines how they function and interact within the body.

 

For decades, predicting a protein's 3D structure from its amino acid sequence-a problem known as the "protein-folding problem"-has been a significant scientific challenge. In 2020, Mr. Hassabis and Dr. Jumper announced a breakthrough with their AI model, AlphaFold 2, which could predict protein structures with remarkable accuracy.

Anna Wedell, a professor of medical genetics at Karolinska Institutet and a member of the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences, told CNN, "It's really a standalone breakthrough solving a traditional holy grail in physical chemistry."

Since its release, AlphaFold's Protein Structure Database has provided predicted models for nearly all of the 200 million known proteins, accelerating research in fields ranging from drug discovery to biotechnology. "They've made everything public, so more or less every field can now turn to this database and use these tools to address their particular problem," Prof. Wedell said.

David Pendlebury, head of research analysis at Clarivate's Institute for Scientific Information, highlighted the impact of their work. "The acknowledgment of the transformational role of AI in research in two categories, back-to-back, is unprecedented," he said, referencing the Nobel Prize in Physics awarded earlier this week for related advancements in artificial intelligence.

The other half of the chemistry prize was awarded to Prof. David Baker for his pioneering efforts in creating entirely new proteins that do not exist in nature. Utilizing computational methods, Prof. Baker's research has led to the development of novel proteins with applications in vaccines, nanomaterials, and sensors.

Speaking at a press briefing after the announcement, Prof. Baker recounted being awakened by the call informing him of the win. Reflecting on his two-decade journey, he said, "We glimpsed at the beginning that it might be possible to create a whole new world of proteins that address a lot of the problems faced by humans in the 21st century. Now it's becoming possible."

Johan Åqvist, a member of the Nobel Committee, praised Prof. Baker's work: "It seems that you can almost construct any type of protein now with this technology."

Dr. Annette Doherty, president of the Royal Society of Chemistry, remarked, "The benefits of this research are remarkable, as we can all look forward to applications improving our health and wellbeing. I am sure that their work will prove as inspirational to future generations as the discoveries of their predecessors who have been awarded this most prestigious honor."

The achievements of Mr. Hassabis, Dr. Jumper, and Prof. Baker underscore the significant role of artificial intelligence in advancing scientific discovery. Adrian Smith, president of the Royal Society, commented, "Today's prize, so soon after the first unveiling of AlphaFold's potential, is a clear recognition of AI's transformative role in science."

Before their work on proteins, Mr. Hassabis and Dr. Jumper developed AI programs capable of defeating top players in complex games like the ancient Chinese board game Go. Mr. Hassabis, a former chess prodigy who coded the classic video game Theme Park at age 17, has long championed AI as a tool to unlock scientific challenges.

"The potential of their discoveries is enormous," the Nobel Committee said. With the ability to predict and design proteins, researchers are poised to make significant strides in understanding diseases, developing new treatments, and creating innovative materials.