A generalized protein design ML model enables generation of functional de novo proteins

Despite significant advancements, the creation of functional proteins de novo remains a fundamental challenge. Although deep learning has revolutionized applications such as protein folding, a critical gap persists in integrating design objectives across structure and function. Here, we present MP4, a transformer-based AI model that generates novel sequences from functional text prompts, that enables the design of fully folded, functional proteins from minimal input specifications. Our approach demonstrates the ability to generate entirely novel proteins with high experimental success rates or effectively redesign existing proteins. This transformer-based model highlights the potential of generalist AI to address complex challenges in protein design, offering a versatile alternative to specialized approaches.