Scientists at NYU Abu Dhabi have created an artificial intelligence tool, LA⁴SR, designed to identify proteins in microalgae with high speed and accuracy. Microalgae play a crucial role in producing oxygen and maintaining aquatic ecosystems, but many of their proteins are difficult to detect because they are mixed with proteins from other microorganisms. Existing computational methods often miss these algal proteins or require extended analysis times.
The new AI system addresses this challenge by analyzing protein sequences similarly to how language models process text. According to the researchers, LA⁴SR can distinguish algal proteins from background noise with near-perfect accuracy and completes analyses up to 10,000 times faster than previous approaches.
"Microalgae are among the most important organisms on Earth, but much of their biology is still hidden from us," said Kourosh Salehi-Ashtiani, Associate Professor of Biology at NYU Abu Dhabi. David Nesson, Senior Research Scientist at NYU Abu Dhabi and lead author of the study, added: "With LA⁴SR we can finally see these proteins clearly, we are making the invisible visible. By training AI to capture genomic information that standard tools miss, we're accelerating marine biology for health and environmental innovation."
The development of LA⁴SR is expected to help scientists discover new natural compounds and enzymes that could support future clean energy solutions. It may also aid in understanding how microscopic life adapts to environmental changes and enable improved monitoring of water quality and ecosystem responses to climate shifts.
LA⁴SR represents a notable advancement in studying microalgae and their role in sustaining life on Earth.
