Research Areas
Potential students and postdocs are welcome to discuss with Dr. An for future projects in details.
Small Molecule Binder and Sensor Design
Our research focuses on designing protein-based sensors and binders for small molecules. Using computational methods and deep learning approaches, we create novel proteins that can specifically recognize and bind to target molecules. These designed proteins have applications in biosensing, diagnostics, and therapeutics.
Key achievements include:
- Development of shape-complementary pseudocycles for small molecule binding
- Design of protein-based sensors for diverse small molecules
- Integration of computational design with experimental validation
Enzyme Redesign
We work on redesigning enzymes to achieve new functions and improved properties. Our approach combines computational protein design with experimental characterization to create enzymes with novel catalytic activities and enhanced stability.
Research highlights:
- Engineering of enzyme active sites for new substrates
- Improvement of enzyme stability and activity
- Development of novel biocatalysts for industrial applications
Protein Design Model Development
We develop and improve computational models for protein design. Our work focuses on creating more accurate and efficient algorithms for all-atom style of de novo protein design and protein engineering.
Main directions:
- Development of neural networks for protein structure generation
- Implementation of novel algorithms for protein design