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Structural biology in the Anthropocene epoch

Nature Structural & Molecular Biology volume 31, page 2 (2024)Cite this article

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Like many biologists, I was drawn to structural biology by the beauty of nature. Curing disease and solving world hunger may fuel grant applications, but these noble ambitions rarely spark curiosity like the undeniable marvels of the natural world. The fact that we literally see the world through the ordered lattice of a crystalline protein lens1, and that fluorescent proteins not only absorb and emit light but also look like molecular-scale paper lanterns2 is amazing.

The prediction of protein structure has radically altered structural biology3. It is not inconceivable that the structure and dynamic assemblies of the entire protein content of a model organism will be accurately modelled in the coming decade. Inevitably, science will move on to predicting protein structures and interactions from every living organism. If this follows Moore’s law of computing, we may genetically sequence and predict the structures of whole proteomes faster than the rate at which species become extinct4,5,6,7. The natural world is under threat from human activities, and sadly for some plant, animal and fungi species, the last interaction that they will have with humanity is to be photographed, have their genome sequenced and their protein structures computationally modelled. The world will be a richer and more beautiful place if we are able to both record protein structures and preserve the natural world that created them.

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  1. Scion, Rotorua, New Zealand

    Peter D. Mabbitt

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  1. Peter D. Mabbitt
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Correspondence to Peter D. Mabbitt.

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Mabbitt, P.D. Structural biology in the Anthropocene epoch. Nat Struct Mol Biol 31, 2 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41594-024-01222-9

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