Current Projects
We are working in teams of 2 to 4 students, on different projects, but we are all linked by the tools we use and meet each other every week to talk about advancements in our projects and help each other on the issues we can enconter.
Phosphosite engineering
This project combines molecular biology and artificial intelligence to investigate conformational changes in phosphosites upon phosphorylation, analyzing over 20,000 phosphosites using custom Python scripts and refined selections with Alphafold predictions. The next phase involves validating about 100 selected phosphosites using NMR spectroscopy to confirm AI model predictions, potentially advancing our understanding of protein functionality and leading to groundbreaking applications in pharmaceuticals and biomolecular studies.
Mini-kinases
We are trying to modify protein kinases by removing some of their domains but such that they keep their usual functionality in cells. Once we have these we’d like to fuse them to other proteins/ protein domains to be able to better regulate the protein’s activity (eg. addition of a light activating domain so that light would act as an on/off switch).
Hydrophobic mutants of proteins
​The goal was to to find hydrophobic mutants of proteins while keeping the shape by randomized mutations. The hydrophilic amino acids on the surface have been replaced by hydrophobic ones.
Designing and testing EphA2 receptor binders
The goal is to design and test binders for EphA2 receptors, which are receptors overexpressed in tumoral cells.
Introducing an alternative alcoholic fermentation pathway in yeast
We are four life sciences engineering students working on optimizing ethanol production through yeast anaerobic fermentation. Our goal is to establish an alternative fermentation pathway in yeasts by studying the integration of a bacterial fermentation pathway presenting advantages such as alleviating anaerobic redox stress or bypassing toxic intermediates. The efficiency of the enzymes involved will then be optimised using novel AI tools such as RFdiffusion.
[URE3] prion binder
We want to create a protein binder that binds to the [URE3] prion in S. cerevisiae, with the future goal of being able to design a binder for prions causing diseases in humans.
Development of a Novel Probe-Free Non-Invasive Imaging Method for Intracellular Antigens
This project aims at developing a novel non-invasive, probe-free method for imaging intracellular antigens.
​GPCR Biosensor Development: Advancing Molecular Detection via BRET and Synthetic Biology
The GPCR Biosensor project focuses on detecting the activation of Gαi/t-subunits in yeast through GPCRs using a BRET (Bioluminescence Resonance Energy Transfer) system. Our current method involves the KB1753 peptide, acting as a proof of concept in laboratory conditions. The aim is to develop this system to recognize a range of molecules, like histamine, by modifying the GPCR binding site. This could lead to significant advancements in understanding signal transduction and drug interactions.
The team's efforts are grounded in seminal research, with foundational work by C. Johnston et al. in Biochemistry, 2006, and R. Jefferson et al. in Nature, 2023, focusing on the minimal determinants for Gαi/t binding and the dynamic receptor-peptide signaling complexes, respectively. This project represents a convergence of molecular biology, biochemistry, and synthetic biology, aiming to create a versatile tool for molecular detection and study.