OmnigeniQ, an Australian start-up, has made a significant breakthrough in biotechnology by unveiling a world-first scientific model at the Biotech Showcase in San Francisco. The company demonstrated the first deterministic computation of Cyclin-dependent kinase 5 (CDK5), a human enzyme crucial for neurological development and disease. This innovative approach enhances the understanding of protein behaviors, bringing OmnigeniQ closer to modeling comprehensive biological systems.
Using its proprietary physics-based computational framework, OmnigeniQ successfully computed the three-dimensional structure, hydration shell, and surface topology of CDK5 directly from first principles of physics. This method does not rely on structural templates, experimental or statistical approximations, or artificial intelligence pattern-matching. The resulting structure aligns with known CDK5 features observed through experimental techniques such as X-ray crystallography. Additionally, it presents the protein in a native, hydrated, and dynamically moving state, which current tools cannot replicate.
Revolutionizing Protein Visualization
This represents the first instance where human protein topology and behavior have been calculated and visualized directly from physics, rather than inferred from experimental models. This advancement is poised to significantly impact the future of drug development, given that the shape of proteins in the human body determines the binding capabilities of drugs and their activation pathways.
OmnigeniQ’s approach captures proteins as living, hydrated entities in motion, reflecting their true state inside the human body. This perspective unveils molecular behaviors that traditional experimental and AI-based tools often overlook. Proteins are essential nanomachines that drive biological processes, constantly adapting to their environments. Most modern medicines target proteins, and their success in clinical trials hinges on the precise three-dimensional geometry of the molecules they engage with.
CDK5 plays a pivotal role in neuronal signaling and regulation. Misregulation of its activity has been linked to various neurological and neurodegenerative conditions, highlighting its importance as a target for scientific and therapeutic exploration. Understanding the true physical structure and behavior of CDK5 is critical for designing effective therapies that interact safely with this enzyme.
Expert Insights on Breakthrough
Tiffanwy (Tiff) Klippel-Cooper, co-founder and Chief Science Officer of OmnigeniQ, emphasizes that the underlying physics-first approach reflects the technology’s intended purpose. “Proteins have always been treated as objects to be imaged or inferred, rather than physical systems to be computed,” Klippel-Cooper stated. “In reality, a protein’s structure emerges from interacting physical constraints – charge distribution, hydration, field effects, and continuous motion. Computing CDK5 from first principles demonstrates that native protein conformations are direct consequences of physics, not mere approximations.”
Jordana Blackman, co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of OmnigeniQ, concurs that this achievement marks a transformative moment for the company and the broader field of medicine. “Knowing the true, dynamic structure of a protein allows for the design of drugs that engage it with greater specificity. This reduces off-target effects, decreases the number of failed candidates, and accelerates the path to viable therapies,” Blackman noted.
The pharmaceutical industry invests billions annually in molecules that fail due to insufficient understanding of their targets. With physics-accurate protein computation, OmnigeniQ aims to fundamentally change this paradigm. This milestone is a significant step in the company’s mission to create the world’s first holographic twin of the human body—a physics-accurate in silico replica designed to make medicine preventative, predictive, and precise.
As OmnigeniQ continues to advance its groundbreaking technology, the potential implications for drug discovery and development are profound. By providing a clearer understanding of protein dynamics, this approach could pave the way for safer and more effective medical therapies in the future.
