Precision Analyzer Reveals ‘Chameleon Proteins’ Causing Intractable Diseases

While most proteins function based on stable three-dimensional structures, a large portion of human proteins lack a fixed shape, making them extremely difficult to study. Researchers have now developed a new analytical method that can precisely examine these elusive proteins, opening new possibilities for understanding and treating diseases such as dementia, Parkinson’s disease and diabetes.

The advanced protein analysis technique, developed by a joint research team from the Daegu Gyeongbuk Institute of Science and Technology (DGIST, Daegu, South Korea) and the Korea Basic Science Institute (KBSI, Daejeon, South Korea), combines artificial intelligence (AI), computer simulations and experimental validation to study intrinsically disordered proteins. Approximately one-third of human proteins are intrinsically disordered proteins, meaning they do not have a fixed three-dimensional structure and constantly change their shape. Despite their unstable nature, these proteins play critical roles in cellular signaling and regulation. However, when they misfold or aggregate abnormally, they are closely linked to neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease, as well as metabolic conditions like type 2 diabetes.

To study these proteins, the researchers developed a hybrid analytical approach. First, they generated tens of thousands of possible protein structures using artificial intelligence models, advanced simulations, and structural data from the Protein Data Bank. These candidate structures were then compared with real experimental data obtained through nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Using a “maximum entropy” method, the system assigned higher confidence to structures that closely matched experimental observations. This approach enabled the researchers to capture even short-lived intermediate structures that occur during protein movement, allowing for a more accurate representation of how these proteins behave in real biological conditions.

The ability to observe intrinsically disordered proteins at the atomic level represents a significant advancement in biomedical research. By tracking how these proteins change under different conditions, such as temperature variations or genetic mutations, researchers can better understand how misfolding processes contribute to disease development. The findings, published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), could play a crucial role in identifying disease mechanisms and designing targeted therapies for conditions that have long been difficult to treat due to the complex nature of these proteins.

The research team plans to expand this approach by developing dedicated structural databases for disordered proteins. In collaboration with national research institutions, they aim to establish a localized version of the Protein Data Bank focused on proteins without fixed structures. Such resources could accelerate research into previously inaccessible protein behaviors and support the development of new treatments for neurodegenerative and metabolic diseases.

“By unraveling the structural secrets of amorphous proteins, which were previously impossible to analyze, we expect this to become a crucial analytical tool for understanding the pathogeneses of intractable diseases, such as dementia, and for developing treatments to control them,” said DGIST Professor Yoo Wookyung.

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