Discover how scientists used AlphaFold to map the protein behind heart disease and how this breakthrough could transform treatment.

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DeepMind

Scientists at the University of Missouri used AlphaFold in combination with cryo-electron microscopy to map the structure of apoB100, the large protein that forms the scaffold of LDL (bad cholesterol). This 50-year-old scientific challenge was solved by using AlphaFold to generate atomic-resolution predictions, then refining them against cryo-EM imaging data. The resulting model reveals a cage-like shell with a ribbon-like belt that keeps LDL particles intact in the bloodstream, potentially opening new pathways for treating atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, the world's leading cause of death.

AlphaFold Reveals a Key Protein Behind Heart Disease