Michigan State University (MSU) researchers have developed a new tool that allows scientists to observe complex molecular interactions in real time, according to a study published in the journal Nature Methods on June 15, 2026. The tool, called 'MobiLig,' uses a combination of advanced microscopy and computational modeling to track how proteins and other molecules move and interact within living cells.
Lead researcher Dr. Sarah Johnson, a professor of biochemistry at MSU, stated, 'This technology gives us a front-row seat to the molecular choreography that underlies all biological processes.' The team tested MobiLig on several key protein complexes involved in cancer cell signaling, successfully capturing dynamic changes that were previously invisible.
The development has significant implications for drug discovery, as it could enable researchers to see how potential drugs affect molecular interactions in real time. Co-author Dr. Michael Chen noted, 'We can now watch how a drug candidate binds to its target and how that changes the behavior of other molecules in the pathway.'
The tool is currently available to other researchers through a collaboration agreement with MSU's Innovation Center. The team plans to refine MobiLig for broader use in pharmaceutical research and basic biology.
