Powerful Peptides

Artistic rendering of the computationally designed peptide gEHEE_06. The molecular surface is shown as a transparent blue shell, and the peptide’s backbone structure is pink. The amino acids’ side chains are white (carbon atoms), blue (nitrogen atoms) and red (oxygen atoms). The crisscrossing bonds that give the peptide its constrained, stable shape are in bright white. Graphic by Dr. Vikram Mulligan. Source here.

“Some common life-saving medicines, such as insulin, are made of proteins so large and fragile that they need to be injected instead of ingested as pills. But a new generation of medicine — made from smaller, more durable proteins known as peptides — is on its way. In a quick, informative talk, molecular engineer and TED Fellow Christopher Bahl explains how he’s using computational design to create powerful peptides that could one day neutralize the flu, protect against botulism poisoning and even stop cancer cells from growing.”

Learn more here at A new type of medicine, custom-made with tiny proteins by Christopher Bahl via TED2019.