BindCraft: one-shot design of functional protein binders

Abstract

Protein-protein interactions (PPIs) are at the core of all key biological processes. However, the complexity of the structural features that determine PPIs makes their design challenging. We present BindCraft, an open-source and automated pipeline for de novo protein binder design with experimental success rates of 10-100%. BindCraft leverages the weights of AlphaFold2 ¹ to generate binders with nanomolar affinity without the need for high-throughput screening or experimental optimization, even in the absence of known binding sites. We successfully designed binders against a diverse set of challenging targets, including cell-surface receptors, common allergens, de novo designed proteins, and multi-domain nucleases, such as CRISPR-Cas9. We showcase the functional and therapeutic potential of designed binders by reducing IgE binding to birch allergen in patient-derived samples, modulating Cas9 gene editing activity, and reducing the cytotoxicity of a foodborne bacterial enterotoxin. Lastly, we utilize cell surface receptor-specific binders to redirect AAV capsids for targeted gene delivery. This work represents a significant advancement towards a "one design-one binder" approach in computational design, with immense potential in therapeutics, diagnostics, and biotechnology.