Gersting, S. W. | bioRxiv Science

bioRxiv2025

BioChemAIgent: An AI-driven Protein Modeling and Docking Framework for Structure-Based Drug Discovery

Recent advances in AI have substantially accelerated in silico drug discovery, yet most computational approaches remain task-specific and require expert knowledge. We present BioChemAIgent, an agentic framework that orchestrates state-of-the-art AI models and established computational chemistry tools to support end-to-end small-molecule analysis, protein modeling, molecular docking, and interaction analysis through a unified interface. BioChemAIgent emphasizes transparent reasoning, reproducible workflows, and community-oriented extensibility for structural biology and drug discovery applications.

bioinformatics↗

bioRxiv2021

Synuclein alpha accumulation mediates podocyte injury in Fabry nephropathy

Current therapies for Fabry disease are based on reversing intra-cellular accumulation of globotriaosylceramide (Gb3) by enzyme replacement therapy (ERT) or chaperone-mediated stabilization of the defective enzyme, thereby alleviating lysosome dysfunction. However, their effect in the reversal of endorgan damage, like kidney injury and chronic kidney disease remains unclear. First, ultrastructural analysis of serial human kidney biopsies showed that longterm use of ERT reduced Gb3 accumulation in podocytes but did not reverse podocyte injury. Then, a CRISPR/CAS9-mediated -Galactosidase knockout podocyte cell line confirmed ERT-mediated reversal of Gb3 accumulation without resolution of lysosomal dysfunction. Transcriptome-based connectivity mapping and SILAC-based quantitative proteomics identified alpha-synuclein (SNCA) accumulation as a key event mediating podocyte injury. Genetic and pharmacological inhibition of SNCA improved lysosomal structure and function in Fabry podocytes, exceeding the benefits of ERT. Together, this work reconceptualizes Fabry-associated cell injury beyond Gb3 accumulation, and introduces SNCA modulation as a potential intervention, especially for patients with Fabry nephropathy.

molecular biology↗