How can AI speed up the creation of new enzymes?

Novel, artificial enzymes could speed up production of essential carbon-negative chemicals and fuels

Spotted: In nature, enzymes — proteins which speed up chemical reactions — drive a wide range of critical processes, from photosynthesis to digestion. Enzymes are also crucial to industry, where they are used in everything from baking and textile production to producing chemicals and fuels.

Now, renewable chemicals company Anodyne has developed an artificial-intelligence-powered (AI-powered) platform to rapidly design ‘de novo’ enzymes — brand new never-before-seen proteins that can accelerate sustainable biochemical reactions. The new enzymes can be designed to undertake the chemical transformations needed to produce sustainable replacements for fossil fuels and chemicals.

By combining deep learning, quantum chemistry, and molecular modelling, Anodyne is able to perform virtual directed evolution to produce and test novel enzymes. The process reduces the astronomical number of possible alternative enzyme configurations down to a number small enough to test (around 100), thereby drastically reducing the cost of developing new enzymes.

The company’s goal is to design enzymes from scratch, which can then turn CO2 and water into novel carbon-negative fuels and speciality chemicals through renewable-powered, bio-electric processes. Last year, the company’s EZ-Methanol project was awarded grant funding from NGIF Capital Corporation through its Industry Grants Programme, which supports early-stage startups developing solutions to challenges facing Canada’s natural gas sector.

The global enzymes market is projected to reach $16.9 billion (around €15.5 billion) by 2027, so it’s unsurprising that Springwise is regularly spotting new innovations in this area. These include an enzyme that turns air into electricity and a bio-based material that replaces heavy metal catalysts.

Written By: Lisa Magloff