AI-Powered Protein Engineering to Accelerate Directed Evolution Campaigns

Accelerate Directed Evolution with Artificial Intelligence

Directed evolution has transformed protein engineering by enabling researchers to discover improved enzymes and proteins through iterative mutation and screening.

However, conventional directed evolution often requires evaluating thousands—or even millions—of variants before identifying optimal candidates.

Neoncorte Bio combines machine learning with directed evolution to prioritize high-value protein variants, helping reduce experimental effort while accelerating protein optimization.

Why Modern Directed Evolution Needs AI

Traditional directed evolution can involve:
  • Large mutation libraries
  • Extensive laboratory screening
  • Multiple engineering cycles
  • Long development timelines
  • High experimental costs
  • Limited exploration of protein sequence space
Machine learning helps focus experimental resources on variants with greater predicted potential, enabling more efficient engineering programs.

Application Areas

AI-Powered Protein Engineering to Accelerate Directed Evolution Campaigns
  • Industrial Enzyme Development

    Optimize enzymes for manufacturing, detergents, food processing, textiles, pulp and paper, and environmental biotechnology.
    Benefit: Reduced screening effort and faster identification of commercially valuable variants.
  • Pharmaceutical Protein Engineering

    Support optimization of therapeutic proteins and biocatalysts during lead development.
    Benefit: Improved candidate prioritization and more efficient engineering campaigns.
  • Synthetic Biology

    Engineer proteins for advanced biological systems requiring rapid iterative optimization.
    Benefit: Faster development of scalable synthetic biology platforms.
  • Specialty Chemical Manufacturing

    Develop biocatalysts for selective chemical synthesis under demanding industrial conditions.
    Benefit: Improved catalytic performance and process robustness.
  • Academic and Collaborative Research

    Support computationally guided protein engineering projects combining experimental and AI-driven methodologies.
    Benefit: Better use of laboratory resources and accelerated discovery.
AI-Powered Protein Engineering to Accelerate Directed Evolution Campaigns

AI-Guided Directed Evolution Workflow

Neoncorte Bio integrates computational prediction with iterative Design-Build-Test-Learn (DBTL) workflows.
Our approach may include:
  • Analysis of protein sequence and structural information
  • Identification of promising mutation sites
  • Machine learning–based variant prioritization
  • Experimental validation of selected candidates
  • Model refinement using new experimental data
  • Successive optimization cycles
This iterative workflow helps improve engineering efficiency while reducing unnecessary experimentation.

Engineering Objectives

Machine learning-guided directed evolution can support optimization of:
  • Catalytic activity
  • Thermostability
  • pH stability
  • Solvent tolerance
  • Oxidative stability
  • Recombinant expression
  • Protein solubility
  • Aggregation resistance
  • Substrate specificity
  • Enantioselectivity
  • Operational lifetime
  • Manufacturability
Projects can target a single objective or balance multiple performance characteristics simultaneously.

Why Combine Machine Learning with Directed Evolution?

Machine learning enables researchers to learn from experimental results and continuously improve mutation selection during successive engineering cycles.
Compared with conventional workflows, AI-guided approaches can help:
  • Prioritize promising variants
  • Reduce experimental library sizes
  • Accelerate optimization cycles
  • Improve resource utilization
  • Explore broader regions of protein sequence space
  • Support multi-objective engineering strategies
Experimental validation remains an essential part of the engineering process, with computational models helping guide decision-making.
Accelerate Directed Evolution with Artificial Intelligence ai ml

What Neoncorte Bio Delivers

  • Machine learning-guided directed evolution strategies
  • AI-assisted mutation prioritization
  • Protein sequence analysis
  • Computational protein design
  • Design-Build-Test-Learn (DBTL) workflows
  • Multi-objective optimization support
  • Candidate ranking for experimental evaluation
  • Confidential B2B development partnerships

Who We Work With

  • Industrial biotechnology companies
  • Pharmaceutical developers
  • Enzyme manufacturers
  • Synthetic biology startups
  • CDMOs and CROs
  • Agricultural biotechnology companies
  • Food ingredient manufacturers
  • Research organizations
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Neoncorte Bio

Where AI Meets Biotechnology
Neoncorte Bio is at the forefront of the convergence between artificial intelligence and enzyme engineering. Our team comprises experts in computational biology, bioinformatics, and machine learning, all driven by a mission to accelerate innovation in enzyme design. By leveraging our advanced AI models, we provide unparalleled solutions that enhance efficiency, reduce costs, and push the boundaries of what's possible in enzyme engineering
Proud Member of Leading Global AI Programs
Neoncorte Bio is part of the NVIDIA Inception and Nebius for Startups programs — two of the world’s leading ecosystems for high-performance AI innovation. These partnerships strengthen our ability to deliver next-generation AI-driven protein, enzyme, and aptamer engineering.
  • NVIDIA Inception Neoncorte Bio AI life sciences company
    As a member of NVIDIA Inception, Neoncorte Bio gains access to cutting-edge GPU technologies, expert guidance, and a global AI ecosystem that supports companies from prototype to production. The program empowers us to explore new AI opportunities and build high-performance biological design pipelines powered by NVIDIA’s world-class platform.
  • Nebius AI life sciences Neoncorte Bio
    Through Nebius for Startups, we gain access to high-performance compute infrastructure optimized for large-scale AI workloads, along with hands-on technical guidance and a strong community of innovative AI companies. Nebius enables us to train and deploy complex biological models more efficiently — accelerating enzyme, protein, and aptamer design while supporting rapid scaling of our R&D pipelines.
Publications
Scientific Publication of Neoncorte Bio Team
  • Modification of natural enzymes to introduce new properties and enhance existing ones is a central challenge in bioengineering. This study is focused on the development of Taq polymerase mutants that show enhanced reverse transcriptase (RTase) activity while retaining other desirable properties such as fidelity, 5′-3′ exonuclease activity, effective deoxyuracil incorporation, and tolerance to locked nucleic acid (LNA)-containing substrates.
  • The transcriptomic data are being frequently used in the research of biomarker genes of different diseases and biological states. The most common tasks there are the data harmonization and treatment outcome prediction. Both of them can be addressed via the style transfer approach. Either technical factors or any biological details about the samples which we would like to control (gender, biological state, treatment, etc.) can be used as style components.
  • List of all Neoncorte Bio publications dedicated to Molecular Biology, Biotechnology, Artificial Intelligence and Artificial Neural Networks, published mostly by Nikolay Russkikh, CEO of Neoncorte Bio

Our Expertise in Action
With extensive experience in AI applications and software engineering tailored to the life sciences, we specialize in solving complex challenges and delivering innovative solutions for our customers. Our work demonstrates a deep understanding of cutting-edge technologies and their application in the real world.
Here are examples of the types of projects we have successfully delivered:
  • Automated NGS Data Analysis:
    Designed a production-grade solution for the automated processing, annotation, and analysis of Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS) data.
  • Single-Cell Data Integration:
    Built state-of-the-art tools for integrating multimodal single-cell data, achieving recognition for technical excellence.
  • Metagenomic Classification Algorithms:
    Developed advanced methods for classifying sequencing reads in metagenomics research.
  • High-Throughput Image Processing Pipelines:
    Engineered an efficient pipeline to process millions of sequencing images with exceptional accuracy.
  • Cell Counting via AI:
    Created a computer vision solution for precise cell counting in microphotography images, streamlining data analysis.
Get in touch with our team
Phone: +1-503-754-3958
Email: contact@neoncorte.com