Counterpoint: MIT scientists translate coronavirus protein structure into music

Enlarge / A visualization of the vibrational properties of the spike protein of the novel coronavirus (SARS-Cov-2). Primary colors represent the spike's three protein chains. (credit: Markus Buehler/MIT)

MIT's Markus Buehler specializes in developing AI models to design new proteins and is perhaps best known for using sonification to illuminate structural details that might otherwise prove elusive. Now his lab has applied that approach to model the vibrational properties of the spike protein responsible for the high contagion rate of the novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2). What they learn could one day help scientists figure out how best to stop the virus in its tracks, leading to potential therapies and hopefully preventing future deadly outbreaks.

The hierarchical elements of music composition (pitch, range, dynamics, tempo) are analogous to the hierarchical elements of protein structure, according to Buehler. Much like how music has a limited number of notes and chords and uses different combinations to compose music, proteins have a limited number of building blocks (its 20 amino acids) that can combine in any number of ways to create novel protein structures with unique properties. Each amino acid has a particular sound signature, akin to a fingerprint.

Any genre of music has patterns," Buehler told Ars last year. "You'll see universality in terms of sound, the tones, but you also see repetitive patterns, like motifs and movements in classical music. These kinds of patterns are also found in proteins."

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