Rational design of light-activated proteins based on the quantum computational microscope

Project funded by Novo Nordisk Foundation (Projects), grant NNF19OC0058144. Participating organisations named by the source: SDU University of Southern Denmark. Runs n/a to 2024-03-31. Keywords: Biochemistry, Biomedicine, Biophysics, Chemistry, Computational Biology / Medicine. Source: OpenAIRE Graph, from the funder's project data (collected by OpenAIRE on 2025-08-01); national funding data, not CORDIS. Abstract given by the source: Light-driven biological processes are ubiquitous and essential in all living organisms and are to a large degree dictated by light-sensitive proteins. Such proteins can be activated non-invasively and represent a great possibility both for obtaining insight and control over fundamental biological functions. Today, in silico design of novel light-sensitive proteins is hampered by the fact that such design principles needs to be formulated based on quantum mechanics – something that becomes extremely difficult due to the very large size of such proteins. With this proposal we seek to develop a quantum computational microscope designed for describing quantum mechanical effects in biological materials. Based on our computational procedure we will develop rational design strategies for light-sensitive proteins relevant for bio-imaging and optogenetics, and thereby provide an important fundament for further development and use of these two very important techniques within the biosciences. _x000D_

Original source.

Source: OpenAIRE Graph: projects of national funders, OpenAIRE, from the project data of Novo Nordisk Foundation. Retrieved 2026-11-02. Licence: Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 (OpenAIRE Graph). Selected metadata, adapted presentation; the publisher's record is authoritative. No endorsement by the source is implied. Licence: Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 (CC BY 4.0).

AI-assisted summary: The project, funded by the Novo Nordisk Foundation, aims to develop a quantum computational microscope to design light-sensitive proteins, addressing challenges in in silico design due to their large size. It involves the University of Southern Denmark and runs until March 31, 2024. Suggested technology pillar: computing. Generated by AI from the public source text; it may contain errors and the original source is authoritative.