AstaP protein, obtained from the algae Coelastrella astaxanthina, has the capacity to provide vision-beneficial carotenoid molecules that are poorly soluble in water. However, the original protein structure was not efficient enough for this task. Using new artificial intelligence algorithms, scientists created four versions of AstaP that are shorter than the original but maintain its effectiveness.
The developed algorithm takes into account less accurate data on the structure of molecules, such as the results of nuclear magnetic resonance. This was possible by overcoming the limitations of existing neural networks that show poor efficiency, such as ProteinMPNN and SolubleMPNN.
Optimized AstaP can reduce the harmful effects of lipofuscin, a pigment that accumulates in cells and causes age-related retinal diseases. According to Nikolai Sluchanko from the Federal Research Center of Biotechnology of the Russian Academy of Sciences, this discovery could help older people preserve their vision.
Source: Ferra
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