Protein structure research that took 84 years is overturned by AI AlphaFold... EBS to broadcast on the 18th

‘Protein structure research, a challenge in the scientific community, has been overturned by AI’

EBS Proteins, why is structure important?

- An 'inexhaustible mine' sweeping the Nobel Prizes?! The reason the scientific community is enthusiastic about protein research - It took as long as 84 years to identify a single protein?! Why was it called the 'grave of structural biologists'? - AlphaFold shakes up CASP, the 'Protein Structure Prediction Olympics'! What was the secret to taking 1st place? - “Creating proteins that never existed in the world” An era of designing proteins with desired functions using AI

* Broadcast Date/Time: Friday, September 18, 2026, at 10:50 PM, EBS 1TV

A special time to uncover the secrets of life through science! In the 101st episode of the science talk show EBS , titled ‘Proteins, why is structure important?’, MC Defconn, Professor Jang Hong-je from the Department of Chemistry at Kwangwoon University, science communicator Hangseong, and Professor Woo Choong-wan from the Department of Global Biomedical Engineering at Sungkyunkwan University meet Professor Seok Cha-ok from Seoul National University, an authority on protein structure research, to examine everything from protein structure and function to research on creating new proteins.

The Nobel Prize season is approaching! Among the predictions for this year's Nobel Prizes, an extraordinary theme emerges. It is 'protein research', which has swept the Nobel Prize in Chemistry several times in history. Why is protein research receiving so much attention that it sweeps the Nobel Prize? Professor Seok Cha-ok, who has researched protein structure prediction for 27 years, explains its importance directly.

Proteins play numerous roles in our bodies. It is said there are over 1 million types! From hemoglobin that carries oxygen to collagen that supports body tissue, the secret to why proteins can perform different tasks lies in their unique 'structures'. However, determining these protein structures has long been a challenge for the scientific community. The history of intense research, which was called the 'grave of structural biologists' as cases emerged where it took as long as 84 years to reveal the structure of a single protein, is revealed.

Scientists had to pour long periods of time into revealing protein structures. 'Is there no other way besides experiments?' After pondering this, scientists began to challenge methods of 'predicting' protein structures. 'CASP', a world competition started in 1994 to find more accurate prediction methods. While scientists around the world have been competing on this stage called the 'Protein Structure Prediction Olympics', the AI AlphaFold appeared and took 1st place. How exactly did AlphaFold solve the challenge that has long tormented scientists?

Now, protein research is moving beyond revealing and predicting structures to the stage of creating new proteins. The protagonist is 'De novo design', which creates proteins that never existed in the world to match desired functions. It is said that the possibility of using this to treat incurable diseases by regulating the functions of problematic proteins is also opening up. How far will protein research truly change disease treatment?

From an era of revealing protein structures over decades to predicting structures with AI and designing new proteins with desired functions!

EBS Episode 101, ‘Proteins, why is structure important?’, where you can meet the present and future of protein structure research, will be broadcast on Friday, September 18, at 10:50 PM on EBS 1TV.

* Related photos are available on the EBS institutional website (about.ebs.co.kr)-Cyber PR Office-Highlights, on the corresponding broadcast date.

◆ At a Glance

· Publishing Institution : EBS

· Category : Science Is My Hobby

· Distribution : September 17

Source : EBS Press Release

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