Enzymes As Nanoscale Machines: The Intersection of AI, Biochemistry, and Engineering

Enzymes are nature’s tiny machines, responsible for everything from digesting food to breaking down environmental pollutants. Scientists at the University of Florida are designing custom-made enzymes to tackle real-world challenges—like neutralizing harmful chemicals or detecting diseases—more efficiently than ever before?  

Jing Pan Ph. D., a faculty member in the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at the University of Florida, is pioneering an innovative approach to enzyme engineering. By combining artificial intelligence (AI) with molecular simulations, his team is developing nanoscale enzyme machines with unprecedented precision and functionality. 

Through a collaboration with Wenjun Xie Ph. D., from UF’s College of Pharmacy and funding from the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), Pan’s research is pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in molecular design. By leveraging AI to predict protein structures and refine their performance through advanced simulations, this work has the potential to transform fields ranging from medicine to environmental protection to defense. 

Read more about Enzymes As Nanoscale Machines: The Intersection of AI, Biochemistry, and Engineering.