Koide Laboratory - Synthetic Protein Science

We aim to advance the knowledge of how proteins and protein interaction networks work by “synthetic” approaches, i.e. designing and making proteins with novel function.  This "learning by building" approach critically tests our understanding of principles that govern protein structure, function and evolution, and it challenges our creativity.

We are now capable of producing highly functional synthetic proteins within weeks.  Structural and functional analysis of synthetic proteins not only critically evaluates the effectiveness of our design strategies but also provides broader insights into the molecular mechanism and evolution of protein form and function.  Knowledge gained from the synthetic approach complements and very often significantly expands the view from classical studies of natural proteins.

Synthetic proteins serve as novel and transformative tools for basic and translational research in medicine and beyond.  We are particularly interested in applying our capability to:

  • Development of biologics therapeutics (engineered proteins and antibodies)
  • Signal transduction and cancer biology
  • Structural biology
  • Synthetic biology

Why synthetic protein science?

News

July 2026- Vinh has been awarded an F30 predoctoral award from the National Cancer Institute. Congrats!

May 2026- Our paper on a protein-engineering strategy that enables cryo-EM studies of small GTPases, e.g., RAS, is published in J Mol Biol.

February 2026 - Our paper on the role of tumor-derived lipocalin-2 (LCN2) and novel immunotherapy targeting LCN2 is published in Nature. This is a collaboration with the Papagiannakopoulos lab. NYU's press release.

August 2025 - Our paper on HapImmune antibodies targetingneoantigens generated from KRAS(G12C) and a covalent inhibitor, adagrasib, is published in PNAS.

October 2024 - Our paper on the development of human antibodies selective to the most common hotspot mutation of HER2 extracellular domain, S310F/Y, is published in Nature Chem Biol. It also reports cryo-EM structures of the HER2 S310F homodimer and the HER2 S310F-antibody complex.

October 2024 - Our paper on monobodies selective to NRAS (over KRAS and HRAS) is published in Oncogene.

May 2024 - Our paper on the cryo-EM structures of HapImmune antibodies bound to sotrasib-KRAS(G12C) peptides presented by HLA is published in PNAS. These represents our first cryo-EM structures.

July 2023 - Our paer on the development of KRAS(G12D)-selective monobodies and the identification of new pocket conformation of KRAS(G12D) using the monobodies is published in PNAS (open access).

May 2023 - Our review paper on the use of phage and other display technologies for monobody development is published in Cold Spring Harbor Protocols.

February 2023 - Our paper on monobodies selective to the phosphatase domain of SHP2 and their utility as mechanistic tools is published in J Mol Biol.

January 2023 - The print version of our Cancer Discovery paper is out, accompanied with a commentary by Adrianne Cox, Jenny Ting and Channing Der, and the journal cover illustration for the January issue. Also highlighed by Science.