Checkmate, Proteins! Reinforcement Learning Transforms Molecular Biology

Researchers have developed a new protein design software using reinforcement learning, which has the potential to create useful molecules with applications in developing potent vaccines and other therapies. This breakthrough could lead to a new era in protein design, with implications in cancer treatments, biodegradable textiles, and regenerative medicine. The team of researchers applied reinforcement learning to a challenge in molecular biology and found that proteins made with the new approach were more effective at generating useful antibodies in mice.