From De Novo to Xeno: Advancing Macromolecule Design beyond Proteins

Protein synthesis methods have been adapted to incorporate an ever-growing level of non-natural components. Meanwhile, design of de novo protein structure and function has rapidly emerged as a viable capability. Yet, these two exciting trends have yet to intersect in a meaningful way. The ability to perform de novo design with non-proteinogenic components requires that synthesis and computation align on common targets and applications. This perspective examines the state of the art in these areas and identifies specific, consequential applications to advance the field toward generalized macromolecule design.