(Image: Dr Zhong Guo and Professor Kirill Alexandrov)
CAB researchers Professor Kirill Alexandrov and Dr Zhong Guo have been awarded an ARC Discovery Project grant of $992,428 for their project Understanding and Exploiting Allostery of AI-Designed Protein Switches.
The project investigates how allostery, the ability of proteins to convert biochemical signals into functional responses, emerges in AI-designed ligand-binding proteins and how this can be harnessed to create efficient and predictable protein biosensors.
Professor Alexandrov said the research will uncover the biophysical basis of synthetic allostery, advancing both fundamental understanding and practical applications in protein engineering.
“These biosensors will have transformative applications across environmental monitoring, agriculture and biotechnology, enabling detection of pollutants, veterinary pathogens and disease biomarkers while supporting sustainable practices and green chemistry,” he said.
“The project will strengthen Australia’s leadership in synthetic biology, drive innovation in biotechnology, and ensure outcomes are widely disseminated through collaboration with national initiatives such as the ARC Centre of Excellence in Synthetic Biology and CSIRO’s Advanced Engineering Biology Future Science Platform.”
CAB congratulates Kirill and Zhong and looks forward to the outcomes of this important research project.