Claude Generated 318,484 Scorpion Toxin Protein Designs, With 17 Lab-Validated Binders

Description and use

Claude generated 318,484 scorpion toxin binder candidates; 211 were lab‑tested, yielding 17 high‑affinity binders, illustrating AI‑assisted high‑throughput protein design.

Problem

How to accelerate protein design for scorpion toxin binders while ensuring experimental validation.

Outcome

17 high‑affinity binders were experimentally validated from a pool of 318,484 AI‑generated candidates, demonstrating the feasibility of AI‑assisted high‑throughput protein design.

Workflow

• 1. Claude generated 318,484 minibinder candidates in 64 h.
• 2. Researchers selected 180 top designs and added 31 more, totaling 211 for testing.
• 3. Two CROs (Adaptyv Bio and Twist Bioscience) expressed candidates via cell‑free and Fc‑tagged mammalian systems.
• 4. Binding assays measured KD ≤1 µM and no off‑target CLEC12A binding.
• 5. 17 designs met all criteria for individual toxins.
• 6. Data and designs were released publicly for inspection.

Evidence

Claude generated 318,484 candidate minibinders in 64 hours

Source

211 designs tested

Source

17 binders

Source

binding in the single‑digit nanomolar KD range

Source