South SFV Today

Proteins play a crucial role in the body's biochemical processes, acting as essential components for various reactions necessary for life. Their significance extends beyond being nutrients, with implications in health and disease. Alex Dunn, a professor of chemical engineering, likens proteins to structural beams: “We can see that in unhealthy heart muscle cells, all of those beams are out of place.”

Proteins facilitate cellular functions such as enzyme activity and antibody response. Polly Fordyce, an associate professor of bioengineering and genetics, states: “Proteins move things around the cell. They transmit signals from outside the cell to change levels of gene expression. They catalyze all of the chemical reactions that make life possible.”

Stanford engineers are exploring how proteins organize into structures and their potential applications in medicine and industry. Brian Hie explains that protein function is linked to their complex structure formed by amino acid chains.

Wah Chiu utilizes cryogenic electron microscopy (cryo-EM) to study proteins at high resolution, allowing researchers to observe natural protein organization without crystallization. This method has advanced understanding of enzyme assembly lines studied by Chaitan Khosla: “When you can see the assembly line actually make its own automobile,” he says, “you get a much clearer sense of what it takes to build an automobile.”

James Swartz is advancing cell-free protein synthesis, enabling rapid production of proteins without using living cells. This approach facilitates creating virus-like particles for potential vaccine delivery.

Fordyce is developing microfluidic devices for simultaneous testing of multiple protein variants: “Instead of using a big beaker or a flask, we make these microfluidic devices that have 1,800 one-nanoliter chambers,” she explains.

Dunn investigates how proteins self-assemble into larger structures through experimental manipulation using laser beams on microscopic beads attached to heart muscle proteins.

Researchers also focus on optimizing protein functions through mutations. Jennifer Cochran develops assays for efficient screening of promising protein variants while Hie's team uses machine learning models for predicting beneficial mutations.

Protein therapeutics could revolutionize drug delivery by targeting specific cells or modulating activity within them. Khosla's research aims at altering immune responses in celiac disease by modifying gluten-reactive proteins.

Hie's work addresses evolving pathogens like SARS-CoV-2 by identifying antibody mutations capable of binding newer virus strains.

In oncology, Cochran's engineered proteins block tumor growth signaling pathways and stimulate immune responses against cancer cells. Her work progresses toward clinical trials following successful lab tests on mice.

Elizabeth Sattely explores plant enzymes' ability to produce complex chemicals economically viable through genetic modifications in yeast cells.

Beyond medicine, engineered enzymes offer solutions for environmental challenges like plastic degradation and energy-efficient manufacturing processes contributing towards sustainability goals highlighted by Fordyce: "This is a really exciting time for this field."

This report was initially published by Stanford School of Engineering.

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