Lasso peptides are small, natural molecules made by bacteria. They have a unique knotted shape, which makes them very stable, even in tough conditions. A recent study in Nature Chemical Biology used AI tools to understand how these peptides are made, which could help develop new medicines.
These lasso peptides are interesting because their knot-like structure makes them great for use as drugs. They have been shown to fight bacteria, viruses, and even cancer.
Making these peptides involves two enzymes. One cuts the peptide, and the other folds it into its special knotted shape. However, it’s been hard to study these enzymes because they are difficult to work with. The researchers used AI programs like AlphaFold to predict the structure of an important enzyme called FusC, which helps tie the peptide into a knot. This new information can be used to improve drug-making processes.
By understanding how these enzymes work, scientists can now create more types of lasso peptides. These discoveries could lead to better drugs in the future.
Source: phys
