State-of-the art computational methods can now be used to design non-natural proteins that show promise as therapeutic agents and nanomaterials from scratch. David Baker and his colleagues describe how computers can be used to accurately generate de novo designed proteins that assemble into desired, defined shapes.

The proteome — a collection of all proteins that are expressed in a cell in a specific context — is extremely complex, especially given that some proteins exist in several states. Wade Harper and Eric Bennett discuss how cells monitor and regulate the relative abundance of each protein in the proteome through quality control mechanisms. They also explore how this knowledge can be used to improve understanding of the function of cells and to develop potential therapeutic drugs.

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