Space LiinTech said on the 9th that it successfully completed the automated protein crystallization experiment of the space medicine research module BEE-PC1 conducted on the International Space Station (ISS). This demonstration is the first case in which corporations in Korea secured protein crystals in the ISS microgravity environment and completed experiment operations.
BEE-PC1 is a space medicine research module designed to minimize astronauts' direct intervention and allow protein crystallization experiments to proceed automatically under preset conditions. In a microgravity environment, convection and precipitation are suppressed, allowing crystal growth conditions to remain stable, which is advantageous for observing the protein crystallization process and improving quality.
Space LiinTech conducted a crystallization experiment targeting USP7 (Ubiquitin-Specific Peptidase 7) together with the Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST). USP7 is known as an enzyme involved in intracellular protein degradation and signal regulation, and it is being studied as a therapeutic target in several cancer types.
The BEE-PC1 module and protein crystals returned to Earth aboard the SpaceX Dragon cargo capsule, and Space LiinTech completed the retrieval process and began analysis. The analysis is being conducted with corporations Helix BioStructures in Indianapolis, the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston, and domestic joint research partner KIST.
Helix BioStructures, based on its experience in high-precision analysis of proteins and biological structures, is cooperating on confirming crystal conditions and analysis procedures, and the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, leveraging its expertise in cancer research, is participating in interpreting the results and academic verification. KIST, as a domestic research partner, is supporting the joint research in the course of conducting the study and interpreting the data.
Space LiinTech plans to precisely analyze the protein crystals obtained in the space environment to assess the structural characteristics of USP7 and the conditions for crystal growth, and to accumulate foundational data for follow-up studies.
Yun Hak-sun, CEO of Space LiinTech, said, "After the success of BEE-PC1's automated experiment, we are pleased to have reached the stage where the protein crystals can be directly confirmed on the ground," and added, "This demonstration was carried out as part of the Korea-style ARPA-H project promoted by the K-Health Future Promotion Group, and thanks to ARPA-H's purpose of supporting challenging tasks, we were able to safely complete the experiment with our own technology."