Oxford scientists engineer quantum-enabled proteins

Researchers at the University of Oxford have engineered quantum-mechanical processes within proteins for the first time. The work produced quantum-enabled proteins that form a new class of biomolecules. The proteins are known as magneto-sensitive fluorescent proteins. They respond to magnetic fields and radio waves via quantum-mechanical interactions. When exposed to light of a specific wavelength, the proteins emit fluorescent light, and the intensity of this fluorescence can be modulated by applying carefully tuned magnetic or radio-frequency fields. The study was published in Nature. It was led by Oxford's Department of Engineering Science in collaboration with the Department of Chemistry and international partners across Europe, Asia and Australia. The researchers developed the proteins using directed evolution. This method introduces random mutations into the DNA sequence encoding a protein to generate thousands of variants. The most promising candidates undergo further rounds of mutation and screening. After multiple cycles, the team achieved proteins with enhanced magnetic-field sensitivity. The work combined engineering, biology, quantum physics and artificial intelligence to optimise performance and examine the underlying quantum mechanisms. As part of the study, the researchers built a prototype imaging instrument capable of detecting the engineered proteins using a mechanism similar to magnetic resonance imaging. This approach could potentially track specific molecules or patterns of gene expression inside living organisms. The study notes that applications may include monitoring genetic changes within tumours, improving targeted drug delivery and studying cellular processes in real time. The proteins originated from a natural source, with related insights drawn from research on magnetoreception in birds.