AI Tool Predicts Toxic Protein Structures Behind Brain Disorders

AI Tool Predicts Toxic Protein Structures Behind Brain Disorders

A new AI tool called RibbonFold is revolutionizing how scientists understand misfolded proteins linked to Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. Unlike existing tools such as AlphaFold, which predict correctly folded proteins, RibbonFold is specifically designed to model the twisted, ribbonlike shapes of amyloid fibrils that accumulate in neurodegenerative diseases.

Modeling Protein Structures Key to Memory Formation

The human brain’s extraordinary capacity to encode, store, and recall memories has captivated neuroscientists for decades. Despite remarkable advances in brain imaging and molecular biology, the fine-grained mechanisms underlying memory formation remain largely elusive. Central to this enigma are the microscopic biochemical processes at the synapse—the communication junction between neurons—where intricate assemblies of proteins orchestrate sign…