AlphaFold is a neural-network-based approach to predicting protein structures with high accuracy. We describe how it works in general terms and discuss some anticipated impacts on the field of structural biology.
This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution
Relevant articles
Open Access articles citing this article.
-
Harnessing epitope reciprocity and multimeric epitope density for a novel multiepitope vaccine design against Acinetobacter baumannii
Scientific Reports Open Access 29 January 2026
-
Rapid estimation of protein folding pathways from sequence alone using AlphaFold2
Nature Communications Open Access 01 December 2025
-
A unique inhibitor conformation selectively targets the DNA polymerase PolC of Gram-positive priority pathogens
Nature Communications Open Access 06 November 2025
Access options
Access Nature and 54 other Nature Portfolio journals
Get Nature+, our best-value online-access subscription
$32.99 / 30 days
cancel any time
Subscribe to this journal
Receive 12 print issues and online access
$259.00 per year
only $21.58 per issue
Buy this article
- Purchase on SpringerLink
- Instant access to the full article PDF.
USD 39.95
Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

References
Jumper, J. et al. Nature 596, 583–589 (2021).
Pereira, J. et al. Proteins 89, 1687–1699 (2021).
wwPDB Consortium. Nucleic Acids Res. 47, D520–D528 (2018).
Bateman, A. et al. Nucleic Acids Res. 49, D480–D489 (2021).
Mitchell, A. L. et al. Nucleic Acids Res. 48(D1), D570–D578 (2020).
Tunyasuvunakool, K. et al. Nature 596, 590–596 (2021).
Akdel, M., Pires, D. E. V., Pardo, E. P., Jänes, J. & Zalevsky, A. O. Preprint at bioRxiv https://doi.org/10.1101/2021.09.26.461876 (2021).
Yin, R., Feng, B. Y., Varshney, A. & Pierce, B. G. Preprint at bioRxiv https://doi.org/10.1101/2021.10.23.465575 (2021).
Bryant, P., Pozzati, G. & Elofsson, A. Preprint at bioRxiv https://doi.org/10.1101/2021.09.15.460468 (2021).
Evans, R., O’Neill, M., Pritzel, A., Antropova, N. & Senior, A.W. bioRxiv (2021).
Millán, C. et al. Proteins 89, 1752–1769 (2021).
Kryshtafovych, A. et al. Proteins 89, 1633–1646 (2021).
Mosalaganti, S. et al. Preprint at bioRxiv https://doi.org/10.1101/2021.10.26.465776 (2021).
Humphreys, I. R. et al. Science https://doi.org/10.1126/science.abm4805 (2021).
Burke, D. F. et al. Preprint at bioRxiv https://doi.org/10.1101/2021.11.08.467664 (2021).
Acknowledgements
We thank K. Tunyasuvunakool for helping with the figure; R. Bates, M. Figurnov, T. Green and Z. Wu for their suggestions and comments; and C. Meyer for helping to prepare the manuscript.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding authors
Ethics declarations
Competing interests
The authors have filed patent applications in the name of DeepMind Technologies Limited relating to machine learning for protein structure prediction.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Jumper, J., Hassabis, D. Protein structure predictions to atomic accuracy with AlphaFold. Nat Methods 19, 11–12 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41592-021-01362-6
Published:
Version of record:
Issue date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41592-021-01362-6
This article is cited by
-
Harnessing epitope reciprocity and multimeric epitope density for a novel multiepitope vaccine design against Acinetobacter baumannii
Scientific Reports (2026)
-
Revolutionizing oncology: the role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) as an antibody design, and optimization tools
Biomarker Research (2025)
-
OmpA virulence factor, a promising conserved vaccine candidate against Acinetobacter baumannii, could trigger autoreactive immune responses in susceptible population
BMC Immunology (2025)
-
Structural Insights into the Protein Mannosyltransferase from Mycobacterium tuberculosis reveal a WW-Domain-Like Protein Motif in Bacteria
Communications Biology (2025)
-
Massive acquisition of conjugative and mobilizable integrated elements fuels Faecalibacterium plasticity and hints at their adaptation to the gut
Scientific Reports (2025)