⚡ Quick Overview
Researchers from Cleveland Clinic and Cornell University have developed a groundbreaking AI tool named PIONEER (Protein-protein InteractiOn iNtErfacE pRediction). This publicly accessible software and web database aims to facilitate the identification of crucial protein-protein interactions, paving the way for more effective medication development.
💡 Key Features and Advantages
- 🔍 Comprehensive Database: PIONEER integrates genomic sequences from nearly 100,000 individuals, 3D structures of over 16,000 human proteins, and known interactions among approximately 300,000 protein pairs.
- 📊 Disease Coverage: The tool allows researchers to explore the interactome for more than 10,500 diseases, ranging from alopecia to von Willebrand Disease.
- ⚙️ Streamlined Research: Users can input disease-associated mutations to receive a ranked list of relevant protein interactions, aiding in drug target identification.
👩🔬 Research Validation and Applications
- The team conducted laboratory experiments, creating nearly 3,000 mutations across over 1,000 proteins and assessing their effects on around 7,000 protein-protein interaction pairs.
- Initial studies are underway to develop treatments for lung and endometrial cancers based on these findings.
- PIONEER’s predictions have shown potential in forecasting survival rates and treatment responses for various cancer types, including sarcoma.
🚀 Future Implications for Drug Development
- Dr. Feixiong Cheng, co-lead author of the study, emphasizes that PIONEER aims to reduce the barriers faced by genetic researchers, ultimately accelerating the development of new therapies.
- The tool is expected to enhance the ability of biomedical researchers to identify promising drug targets across a wide range of diseases, including autoimmune, cancer, cardiovascular, metabolic, neurological, and pulmonary conditions.
🔗 References
- Xiong D, Qiu Y, Zhao J, Zhou Y, Lee D, Gupta S, Torres M, Lu W, Liang S, Kang JJ, Eng C, Loscalzo J, Cheng F, Yu H. A structurally informed human protein-protein interactome reveals proteome-wide perturbations caused by disease mutations. Nat Biotechnol. 2024 Oct 24. doi: 10.1038/s41587-024-02428-4