We are excited to announce that Protective Antigen has been selected as Clovertex’s Target of the...
Following this year’s Nobel Prize in Chemistry for breakthroughs in protein structure prediction and novel protein design, CloverTex’s October target is enzyme XC5397 from Xanthomonas campestris. This enzyme with lactonase activity was previously a focus of the Aflatoxin Challenge - a global initiative aimed at developing enzymes to degrade aflatoxins, potent carcinogens that affect an estimated 4.5 billion people worldwide. Aflatoxin exposure is linked to nearly 28% of liver cancer cases and contributes to stunted growth in children, compromised immune systems, and higher rates of maternal anemia and mortality.
While current methods to control and degrade aflatoxins remain limited, scientists are working to develop enzymes that could drastically reduce their toxicity. To accelerate this discovery, organizations including Mars, Incorporated, UC Davis, Thermo Fisher Scientific, the University of Washington, Northeastern University, the Partnership for Aflatoxin Control in Africa (PACA), and the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (UN FAO) launched the Foldit Aflatoxin Challenge. This crowdsourced initiative on the Foldit platform invited players worldwide to design new enzymes to help tackle this issue.
Efforts like these are now dramatically empowered by the capabilities of AI, which have unlocked unlimited potential in protein design. By targeting enzymes such as XC5397 and repurposing them for various applications, we are entering a new frontier in protein science that bridges biology and engineering, offering promising solutions to a wide range of global health and safety challenges.
The Protein Imager rendering displays the crystal structure of XC5397 from Xanthomonas campestris (PDB entry 3DR2).
About Clovertex
Clovertex is an industry leader specializing in meeting the scientific IT needs of pharmaceutical companies, with a robust focus on cloud-based or on-premises cryo-EM processing. As an Advanced Tier Services Partner with Amazon Web Services (AWS), Clovertex leverages its comprehensive expertise to architect, build, automate, and manage software applications designed to meet specific research needs. Our all-encompassing solutions are meticulously tailored to streamline the complex processes associated with pharmaceutical research, underscoring our commitment to innovation, efficiency, and customer satisfaction. By integrating state-of-the-art technology with deep scientific understanding, Clovertex paves the way in optimizing the intersection of information technology and pharmaceutical development.
Useful links
2. Clovertex website
