CRYSTALLINE HEARTBEAT
VISUAL ART
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SCIENCE
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TECHNOLOGY
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VISUAL ART - SCIENCE - TECHNOLOGY -
by Matthew Chung
“Back in the 19th century, scientists stumbled upon a fascinating fact — when purified, proteins from our bodies can form crystals.”
A description from Matthew:
In our modern world, artificial intelligence (AI) has made leaps and bounds, especially with algorithms like AlphaFold that predict how proteins look in 3D. But we often overlook a crucial part of this achievement: teaching AI what proteins look like in the first place. This teaching process is grounded in over 180 years of scientific discoveries.
Back in the 19th century, scientists stumbled upon a fascinating fact — when purified, proteins from our bodies can form crystals. By the 1910s, they figured out how to use X-rays to map out the 3D structures of these proteins. This breakthrough led to several Nobel Prizes and has helped us design numerous new drugs. Despite thousands of known protein structures, many remain a mystery. Even with AI predictions, we still need to verify these structures.
From 2016 to 2018, I worked at the University of Hong Kong on a protein called GAS41, linked to glioblastoma, a type of brain cancer. The journey was tough but incredibly rewarding. I shared my findings in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, and you can explore the 3D structure. Give it a spin!
3D structure of GAS41
Getting to this point wasn’t easy. It took dozens of trips to synchrotrons—those cool, massive particle accelerators where we use X-rays to study crystals. I spent countless sleepless nights and made thousands of attempts to grow the perfect crystals. And then, one day, they appeared in a heart-shaped droplet. The mix of relief and joy I felt in that moment was indescribable.
There were many times I thought about giving up. The pressure and the self-doubt were overwhelming. But those tiny crystals reminded me why I do what I do. Literally the crystals of resilience and passion.
Nowadays, I’m still a scientist, though my work involves a lot more coding. But it’s the biology — the dance of life at the molecular level — that keeps me fascinated. The potential of biology to solve some of humanity’s toughest problems and help us explore new frontiers in space is what keeps me going.
"Crystalline Heartbeat" is a glimpse into my journey. It shows the beauty of protein crystals and the emotional rollercoaster behind scientific discovery. I hope it resonates with you and gives you a sense of the dedication and passion that drive science forward.
What exactly are we seeing in ‘Crystalline Heartbeat’? What are the different colours and structures meant to be?
The photograph shows protein crystals, which are tiny, beautifully structured formations. It’s difficult to imagine how small they are – you could line up 500 of these crystals and they would still be as short as a single grain of rice! The individual protein molecules that make up the crystals are even smaller by thousand of times.
Proteins don’t have very regular shapes, so it is very difficult for them to line up perfectly and form crystals. However, when they do form crystals, they can pack together in surprising and unique ways. This results in a variety of different crystal shapes. This time, they’re making rods and pins. The colours come from the way light interacts with these crystals, giving them a stunning, rainbow-like appearance.
3D structure of GAS41
What did you discover about GAS41 and perhaps how it is linked to glioblastoma?
I found that GAS41 can read certain changes in other proteins called histones. Histones help package DNA in our cells and can be modified in different ways to control which genes are turned on or off. GAS41 specifically reads a type of modification called succinylation, which can change the way some genes are expressed. This ability to influence gene expression is important because when these processes go wrong, it can lead to diseases like glioblastoma. Understanding the structure of GAS41 helps us learn more about how it functions and how it might contribute to the development of this cancer. This knowledge could hopefully inspire more research and eventually lead to new treatments or therapies for glioblastoma.
Would the GAS41 protein exist in a crystal form in the body? And what is the purpose of looking at crystals of these proteins?
No, GAS41 doesn't exist in a crystal form in the body. We create crystals of the protein in the lab to study them in detail. By crystallising the protein, we can use X-rays to determine its exact 3D shape. This detailed view helps us understand how the protein works and how it might be involved in diseases like glioblastoma.
GAS41 Dancheong
by Soyoung Choi (from STEAMUL8) with Matthew Chung.
The 3D structure of GAS41 was used to create ‘GAS41 Dancheong’. It reminds Soyoung of the colourful paintings, known as ‘dancheong’, that decorate temples and palaces in Korea. Records of dancheong date back to the ancient Goguryeo Kingdom era (37 B.C.E-668 C.E.). It serves two purposes: for decoration and protection of the wood used in traditional architecture.
It sounds like a rewarding process where through so much grit and determination you worked on producing a delicate and beautiful piece of work! Do you have any similar sources of inspiration now in the slightly different field you work in?
Thank you! My current work involves more coding and AI, but my inspiration still comes from the incredible complexity and beauty of biology. The detailed studies I did with protein crystals, like GAS41, are still crucial. Now, with computers, we can combine millions of these detailed findings to get a more comprehensive picture of biological principles. This broader understanding helps us tackle big problems in healthcare, make our planet cleaner, and even explore new frontiers in space. The potential to use this knowledge to solve some of humanity’s toughest challenges is what keeps me motivated and inspired. The possibilities are endlessly fascinating.
Welcome Matthew!
I'm excited about joining the STEAMUL8 community! I hope to connect with like-minded individuals who share a passion for combining science, technology, engineering, art, and maths. I'm looking forward to exchanging ideas, learning from others, and contributing my own insights to this vibrant and innovative community.
