IBM and Moderna have successfully simulated the longest mRNA pattern without AI by using a quantum computer instead. Researchers used IBM’s R2 Heron quantum processor to predict the secondary protein structure of a 60-nucleotide-long mRNA sequence, which is the longest ever simulated on a quantum computer.
mRNA is a molecule that carries genetic information from DNA to ribosomes and directs protein synthesis in cells. Its secondary protein structure consists of folds that provide a specific 3D shape, but predicting this shape becomes increasingly difficult as the length of the sequence increases.
Traditionally, predictions relied on binary classical computers and artificial intelligence models like Google DeepMind’s AlphaFold. However, these methods have limitations, such as excluding higher complexity features like pseudoknots, which can limit accuracy.
Scientists aim to overcome these limitations by augmenting experiments with quantum technology. The researchers used a conditional value-at-risk-based variational quantum algorithm to predict the secondary protein structure of the 60-nucleotide-long mRNA sequence. They initially used 80 qubits but scaled up the experiment using recent error-correction techniques.
The team’s achievement demonstrates the potential of quantum simulation algorithms in predicting mRNA structures and could lead to more effective mRNA-based vaccines. However, they acknowledge that better algorithms and processing architectures will be needed to advance the research.
Source: https://www.livescience.com/technology/computing/ibm-and-moderna-have-simulated-the-longest-mrna-pattern-without-ai-they-used-a-quantum-computer-instead