health
December 15, 2025
How AlphaFold is helping scientists engineer more heat-tolerant crops
Scientists are using AlphaFold to strengthen a vital photosynthesis enzyme (GLYK), paving the way for more resilient, heat-tolerant crops that can adapt to a warming climate and help secure food prod…
TL;DR
- Scientists used AlphaFold to predict the structure of the enzyme glycerate kinase (GLYK), crucial for photosynthesis.
- High temperatures cause the plant version of GLYK to destabilize, hindering photosynthesis.
- Hybrid enzymes were created by replacing unstable loops in plant GLYK with more rigid ones from heat-loving algae.
- One engineered enzyme remained stable at temperatures up to 65°C.
- This research could lead to the development of crops that are more tolerant to heat and drought.
- The strategy aims to create a molecular toolkit for adapting agriculture to a warming world.
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