Proteins that change their structure in response to light move so fast that it was not possible to record their image for examination of their structure. A research team from the University of Wisconsin Milwaukee in the USA and the Center for Free Electron Laser Science in Germany conducted a new study to examine the structural changes of proteins.
The research team of the study, published in the journal Nature, was able to examine how protein structures change shape in response to light, thanks to artificial intelligence technologies. Researchers have created the most precise record of proteins ever using quantum mechanical calculations.
Created the clearest image ever
This is a depiction of the experiment that revealed how a protein from photosynthetic bacteria changes shape in response to light.
When the light-excited protein (PYP) absorbs light, it also absorbs its energy and rearranges itself. Until now, light-induced changes in proteins were said to occur instantly. Scientists underlined that the “moment” is not immeasurable, it happens in a short time, known as a quarter of a second (femtosecond), in proteins. It was not possible to record the movement that took place in such a short time.
A mechanical system developed with artificial intelligence technology and quantum theory was used in the experiment in which the movements of light-sensitive proteins were examined. With the new technology, the researchers were able to capture a snapshot of how electrons inside the protein move. Thanks to artificial intelligence technology, the recorded image was slowed down enough to be perceived by the human eye. Thanks to the study, it was observed how movements within the molecule change the structure of everything.
The protein’s response to light has never been observed so well before. Petra Fromme of Arizona State University said that the combination of quantum theory and artificial intelligence used in the study shows promise for future research of photosensitive molecules. “The combination of modern experimental techniques with ideas from theoretical physics and mathematics will bring further progress,” said Coauthor Robin Santra, a physicist at the University of Hamburg.
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