1
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Yu MZ, Yuan Y, Li ZJ, Kunthic T, Wang HX, Xu C, Xiang Z. An Artificial Enzyme for Asymmetric Nitrocyclopropanation of α,β-Unsaturated Aldehydes-Design and Evolution. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2024; 63:e202401635. [PMID: 38597773 DOI: 10.1002/anie.202401635] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2024] [Revised: 03/24/2024] [Accepted: 04/08/2024] [Indexed: 04/11/2024]
Abstract
The introduction of an abiological catalytic group into the binding pocket of a protein host allows for the expansion of enzyme chemistries. Here, we report the generation of an artificial enzyme by genetic encoding of a non-canonical amino acid that contains a secondary amine side chain. The non-canonical amino acid and the binding pocket function synergistically to catalyze the asymmetric nitrocyclopropanation of α,β-unsaturated aldehydes by the iminium activation mechanism. The designer enzyme was evolved to an optimal variant that catalyzes the reaction at high conversions with high diastereo- and enantioselectivity. This work demonstrates the application of genetic code expansion in enzyme design and expands the scope of enzyme-catalyzed abiological reactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ming-Zhu Yu
- State Key Laboratory of Chemical Oncogenomics, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Chemical Genomics, AI for Science (AI4S) Preferred Program, School of Chemical Biology and Biotechnology Peking University Shenzhen Graduate School, University Town of Shenzhen, Nanshan District, 518055, Shenzhen, P. R. China
| | - Ye Yuan
- State Key Laboratory of Chemical Oncogenomics, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Chemical Genomics, AI for Science (AI4S) Preferred Program, School of Chemical Biology and Biotechnology Peking University Shenzhen Graduate School, University Town of Shenzhen, Nanshan District, 518055, Shenzhen, P. R. China
| | - Zhen-Jie Li
- Shenzhen Grubbs Institute and Department of Chemistry, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Catalysis, Southern University of Science and Technology Nanshan District, 518055, Shenzhen, P. R. China
| | - Thittaya Kunthic
- State Key Laboratory of Chemical Oncogenomics, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Chemical Genomics, AI for Science (AI4S) Preferred Program, School of Chemical Biology and Biotechnology Peking University Shenzhen Graduate School, University Town of Shenzhen, Nanshan District, 518055, Shenzhen, P. R. China
| | - He-Xiang Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Chemical Oncogenomics, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Chemical Genomics, AI for Science (AI4S) Preferred Program, School of Chemical Biology and Biotechnology Peking University Shenzhen Graduate School, University Town of Shenzhen, Nanshan District, 518055, Shenzhen, P. R. China
| | - Chen Xu
- Shenzhen Grubbs Institute and Department of Chemistry, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Catalysis, Southern University of Science and Technology Nanshan District, 518055, Shenzhen, P. R. China
| | - Zheng Xiang
- State Key Laboratory of Chemical Oncogenomics, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Chemical Genomics, AI for Science (AI4S) Preferred Program, School of Chemical Biology and Biotechnology Peking University Shenzhen Graduate School, University Town of Shenzhen, Nanshan District, 518055, Shenzhen, P. R. China
- Institute of Chemical Biology, Shenzhen Bay Laboratory Gaoke Innovation Center, Guangqiao Road, Guangming District, 518132, Shenzhen, P. R. China
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2
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Yi HB, Lee S, Seo K, Kim H, Kim M, Lee HS. Cellular and Biophysical Applications of Genetic Code Expansion. Chem Rev 2024; 124:7465-7530. [PMID: 38753805 DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemrev.4c00112] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/18/2024]
Abstract
Despite their diverse functions, proteins are inherently constructed from a limited set of building blocks. These compositional constraints pose significant challenges to protein research and its practical applications. Strategically manipulating the cellular protein synthesis system to incorporate novel building blocks has emerged as a critical approach for overcoming these constraints in protein research and application. In the past two decades, the field of genetic code expansion (GCE) has achieved significant advancements, enabling the integration of numerous novel functionalities into proteins across a variety of organisms. This technological evolution has paved the way for the extensive application of genetic code expansion across multiple domains, including protein imaging, the introduction of probes for protein research, analysis of protein-protein interactions, spatiotemporal control of protein function, exploration of proteome changes induced by external stimuli, and the synthesis of proteins endowed with novel functions. In this comprehensive Review, we aim to provide an overview of cellular and biophysical applications that have employed GCE technology over the past two decades.
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Affiliation(s)
- Han Bin Yi
- Department of Chemistry, Sogang University, 35 Baekbeom-ro, Mapo-gu, Seoul 04107, Republic of Korea
| | - Seungeun Lee
- Department of Chemistry, Sogang University, 35 Baekbeom-ro, Mapo-gu, Seoul 04107, Republic of Korea
| | - Kyungdeok Seo
- Department of Chemistry, Sogang University, 35 Baekbeom-ro, Mapo-gu, Seoul 04107, Republic of Korea
| | - Hyeongjo Kim
- Department of Chemistry, Sogang University, 35 Baekbeom-ro, Mapo-gu, Seoul 04107, Republic of Korea
| | - Minah Kim
- Department of Chemistry, Sogang University, 35 Baekbeom-ro, Mapo-gu, Seoul 04107, Republic of Korea
| | - Hyun Soo Lee
- Department of Chemistry, Sogang University, 35 Baekbeom-ro, Mapo-gu, Seoul 04107, Republic of Korea
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3
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Williams TL, Taily IM, Hatton L, Berezin AA, Wu YL, Moliner V, Świderek K, Tsai YH, Luk LYP. Secondary Amine Catalysis in Enzyme Design: Broadening Protein Template Diversity through Genetic Code Expansion. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2024; 63:e202403098. [PMID: 38545954 DOI: 10.1002/anie.202403098] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2024] [Indexed: 04/20/2024]
Abstract
Secondary amines, due to their reactivity, can transform protein templates into catalytically active entities, accelerating the development of artificial enzymes. However, existing methods, predominantly reliant on modified ligands or N-terminal prolines, impose significant limitations on template selection. In this study, genetic code expansion was used to break this boundary, enabling secondary amines to be incorporated into alternative proteins and positions of choice. Pyrrolysine analogues carrying different secondary amines could be incorporated into superfolder green fluorescent protein (sfGFP), multidrug-binding LmrR and nucleotide-binding dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR). Notably, the analogue containing a D-proline moiety demonstrated both proteolytic stability and catalytic activity, conferring LmrR and DHFR with the desired transfer hydrogenation activity. While the LmrR variants were confined to the biomimetic 1-benzyl-1,4-dihydronicotinamide (BNAH) as the hydride source, the optimal DHFR variant favorably used the pro-R hydride from NADPH for stereoselective reactions (e.r. up to 92 : 8), highlighting that a switch of protein template could broaden the nucleophile option for catalysis. Owing to the cofactor compatibility, the DHFR-based secondary amine catalysis could be integrated into an enzymatic recycling scheme. This established method shows substantial potential in enzyme design, applicable from studies on enzyme evolution to the development of new biocatalysts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas L Williams
- School of Chemistry and Cardiff Catalysis Institute, Cardiff University, Main Building, Park Place, Cardiff, CF10 3AT, United Kingdom
| | - Irshad M Taily
- School of Chemistry and Cardiff Catalysis Institute, Cardiff University, Main Building, Park Place, Cardiff, CF10 3AT, United Kingdom
| | - Lewis Hatton
- School of Chemistry and Cardiff Catalysis Institute, Cardiff University, Main Building, Park Place, Cardiff, CF10 3AT, United Kingdom
| | - Andrey A Berezin
- School of Chemistry and Cardiff Catalysis Institute, Cardiff University, Main Building, Park Place, Cardiff, CF10 3AT, United Kingdom
| | - Yi-Lin Wu
- School of Chemistry and Cardiff Catalysis Institute, Cardiff University, Main Building, Park Place, Cardiff, CF10 3AT, United Kingdom
| | - Vicent Moliner
- BioComp Group, Institute of Advanced Materials (INAM), Universitat Jaume I, 12071, Castelló, Spain
| | - Katarzyna Świderek
- BioComp Group, Institute of Advanced Materials (INAM), Universitat Jaume I, 12071, Castelló, Spain
| | - Yu-Hsuan Tsai
- Institute of Molecular Physiology, Shenzhen Bay Laboratory, Gaoke International Innovation Center, Guangming District, 518132, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
| | - Louis Y P Luk
- School of Chemistry and Cardiff Catalysis Institute, Cardiff University, Main Building, Park Place, Cardiff, CF10 3AT, United Kingdom
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4
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Hampton JT, Liu WR. Diversification of Phage-Displayed Peptide Libraries with Noncanonical Amino Acid Mutagenesis and Chemical Modification. Chem Rev 2024; 124:6051-6077. [PMID: 38686960 PMCID: PMC11082904 DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemrev.4c00004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2024] [Revised: 04/11/2024] [Accepted: 04/15/2024] [Indexed: 05/02/2024]
Abstract
Sitting on the interface between biologics and small molecules, peptides represent an emerging class of therapeutics. Numerous techniques have been developed in the past 30 years to take advantage of biological methods to generate and screen peptide libraries for the identification of therapeutic compounds, with phage display being one of the most accessible techniques. Although traditional phage display can generate billions of peptides simultaneously, it is limited to expression of canonical amino acids. Recently, several groups have successfully undergone efforts to apply genetic code expansion to introduce noncanonical amino acids (ncAAs) with novel reactivities and chemistries into phage-displayed peptide libraries. In addition to biological methods, several different chemical approaches have also been used to install noncanonical motifs into phage libraries. This review focuses on these recent advances that have taken advantage of both biological and chemical means for diversification of phage libraries with ncAAs.
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Affiliation(s)
- J. Trae Hampton
- Texas
A&M Drug Discovery Center and Department of Chemistry, College
of Arts and Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77843, United States
| | - Wenshe Ray Liu
- Texas
A&M Drug Discovery Center and Department of Chemistry, College
of Arts and Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77843, United States
- Institute
of Biosciences and Technology and Department of Translational Medical
Sciences, College of Medicine, Texas A&M
University, Houston, Texas 77030, United States
- Department
of Biochemistry and Biophysics, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77843, United States
- Department
of Cell Biology and Genetics, College of Medicine, Texas A&M University, College
Station, Texas 77843, United States
- Department
of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Irma Lerma Rangel College of Pharmacy, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77843, United States
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5
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Wright DE, O’Donoghue P. Biosynthesis, Engineering, and Delivery of Selenoproteins. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 25:223. [PMID: 38203392 PMCID: PMC10778597 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25010223] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2023] [Revised: 12/14/2023] [Accepted: 12/18/2023] [Indexed: 01/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Selenocysteine (Sec) was discovered as the 21st genetically encoded amino acid. In nature, site-directed incorporation of Sec into proteins requires specialized biosynthesis and recoding machinery that evolved distinctly in bacteria compared to archaea and eukaryotes. Many organisms, including higher plants and most fungi, lack the Sec-decoding trait. We review the discovery of Sec and its role in redox enzymes that are essential to human health and important targets in disease. We highlight recent genetic code expansion efforts to engineer site-directed incorporation of Sec in bacteria and yeast. We also review methods to produce selenoproteins with 21 or more amino acids and approaches to delivering recombinant selenoproteins to mammalian cells as new applications for selenoproteins in synthetic biology.
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Affiliation(s)
- David E. Wright
- Department of Biochemistry, The University of Western Ontario, London, ON N6A 5C1, Canada;
| | - Patrick O’Donoghue
- Department of Biochemistry, The University of Western Ontario, London, ON N6A 5C1, Canada;
- Department of Chemistry, The University of Western Ontario, London, ON N6A 5C1, Canada
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6
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Jiang HK, Weng JH, Wang YH, Tsou JC, Chen PJ, Ko ALA, Söll D, Tsai MD, Wang YS. Rational design of the genetic code expansion toolkit for in vivo encoding of D-amino acids. Front Genet 2023; 14:1277489. [PMID: 37904728 PMCID: PMC10613524 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2023.1277489] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2023] [Accepted: 09/18/2023] [Indexed: 11/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Once thought to be non-naturally occurring, D-amino acids (DAAs) have in recent years been revealed to play a wide range of physiological roles across the tree of life, including in human systems. Synthetic biologists have since exploited DAAs' unique biophysical properties to generate peptides and proteins with novel or enhanced functions. However, while peptides and small proteins containing DAAs can be efficiently prepared in vitro, producing large-sized heterochiral proteins poses as a major challenge mainly due to absence of pre-existing DAA translational machinery and presence of endogenous chiral discriminators. Based on our previous work demonstrating pyrrolysyl-tRNA synthetase's (PylRS') remarkable substrate polyspecificity, this work attempts to increase PylRS' ability in directly charging tRNAPyl with D-phenylalanine analogs (DFAs). We here report a novel, polyspecific Methanosarcina mazei PylRS mutant, DFRS2, capable of incorporating DFAs into proteins via ribosomal synthesis in vivo. To validate its utility, in vivo translational DAA substitution were performed in superfolder green fluorescent protein and human heavy chain ferritin, successfully altering both proteins' physiochemical properties. Furthermore, aminoacylation kinetic assays further demonstrated aminoacylation of DFAs by DFRS2 in vitro.
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Affiliation(s)
- Han-Kai Jiang
- Institute of Biological Chemistry, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan
- Taiwan International Graduate Program Chemical Biology and Molecular Biophysics, Institute of Biological Chemistry, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan
- Department of Chemistry, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, Taiwan
| | - Jui-Hung Weng
- Institute of Biological Chemistry, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Yi-Hui Wang
- Institute of Biological Chemistry, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan
- Institute of Biochemical Sciences, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Jo-Chu Tsou
- Institute of Biological Chemistry, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Pei-Jung Chen
- Institute of Biological Chemistry, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan
- Institute of Biochemical Sciences, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - An-Li Andrea Ko
- Institute of Biological Chemistry, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Dieter Söll
- Department of Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry, Yale University, New Haven, CT, United States
- Department of Chemistry, Yale University, New Haven, CT, United States
| | - Ming-Daw Tsai
- Institute of Biological Chemistry, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Yane-Shih Wang
- Institute of Biological Chemistry, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan
- Taiwan International Graduate Program Chemical Biology and Molecular Biophysics, Institute of Biological Chemistry, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan
- Institute of Biochemical Sciences, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
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7
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Schloßhauer JL, Zemella A, Dondapati SK, Thoring L, Meyer M, Kubick S. Enhancing the performance of a mutant pyrrolysyl-tRNA synthetase to create a highly versatile eukaryotic cell-free protein synthesis tool. Sci Rep 2023; 13:15236. [PMID: 37709815 PMCID: PMC10502014 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-42198-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2023] [Accepted: 09/06/2023] [Indexed: 09/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Modification of proteins with a broad range of chemical functionalities enables the investigation of protein structure and activity by manipulating polypeptides at single amino acid resolution. Indeed, various functional groups including bulky non-canonical amino acids like strained cyclooctenes could be introduced by the unique features of the binding pocket of the double mutant pyrrolysyl-tRNA synthetase (Y306A, Y384F), but the instable nature of the enzyme limits its application in vivo. Here, we constructed a cell-free protein production system, which increased the overall enzyme stability by combining different reaction compartments. Moreover, a co-expression approach in a one-pot reaction allowed straightforward site-specific fluorescent labeling of the functional complex membrane protein cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator. Our work provides a versatile platform for introducing various non-canonical amino acids into difficult-to-express proteins for structural and fluorescence based investigation of proteins activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeffrey L Schloßhauer
- Fraunhofer Project Group PZ-Syn of the Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology (IZI), Branch Bioanalytics and Bioprocesses (IZI-BB), Institute of Biotechnology,, Brandenburg University of Technology Cottbus-Senftenberg, Am Mühlenberg, Potsdam, Germany
- Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology (IZI), Branch Bioanalytics and Bioprocesses (IZI-BB), Am Mühlenberg, Potsdam, Germany
- Laboratory of Protein Biochemistry, Institute for Chemistry and Biochemistry, Freie Universität Berlin, Thielallee 63, 14195, Berlin, Germany
| | - Anne Zemella
- Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology (IZI), Branch Bioanalytics and Bioprocesses (IZI-BB), Am Mühlenberg, Potsdam, Germany.
| | - Srujan K Dondapati
- Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology (IZI), Branch Bioanalytics and Bioprocesses (IZI-BB), Am Mühlenberg, Potsdam, Germany
| | - Lena Thoring
- Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology (IZI), Branch Bioanalytics and Bioprocesses (IZI-BB), Am Mühlenberg, Potsdam, Germany
| | - Manpreet Meyer
- Laboratory of Protein Biochemistry, Institute for Chemistry and Biochemistry, Freie Universität Berlin, Thielallee 63, 14195, Berlin, Germany
| | - Stefan Kubick
- Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology (IZI), Branch Bioanalytics and Bioprocesses (IZI-BB), Am Mühlenberg, Potsdam, Germany
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Joint Faculty of the Brandenburg University of Technology Cottbus -Senftenberg, The Brandenburg Medical School Theodor Fontane, University of Potsdam, Potsdam, Germany
- Laboratory of Protein Biochemistry, Institute for Chemistry and Biochemistry, Freie Universität Berlin, Thielallee 63, 14195, Berlin, Germany
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8
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Beattie AT, Dunkelmann DL, Chin JW. Quintuply orthogonal pyrrolysyl-tRNA synthetase/tRNA Pyl pairs. Nat Chem 2023; 15:948-959. [PMID: 37322102 PMCID: PMC7615293 DOI: 10.1038/s41557-023-01232-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2022] [Accepted: 05/03/2023] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Mutually orthogonal aminoacyl transfer RNA synthetase/transfer RNA pairs provide a foundation for encoding non-canonical amino acids into proteins, and encoded non-canonical polymer and macrocycle synthesis. Here we discover quintuply orthogonal pyrrolysyl-tRNA synthetase (PylRS)/pyrrolysyl-tRNA (tRNAPyl) pairs. We discover empirical sequence identity thresholds for mutual orthogonality and use these for agglomerative clustering of PylRS and tRNAPyl sequences; this defines numerous sequence clusters, spanning five classes of PylRS/tRNAPyl pairs (the existing classes +N, A and B, and newly defined classes C and S). Most of the PylRS clusters belong to classes that were unexplored for orthogonal pair generation. By testing pairs from distinct clusters and classes, and pyrrolysyl-tRNAs with unusual structures, we resolve 80% of the pairwise specificities required to make quintuply orthogonal PylRS/tRNAPyl pairs; we control the remaining specificities by engineering and directed evolution. Overall, we create 924 mutually orthogonal PylRS/tRNAPyl pairs, 1,324 triply orthogonal pairs, 128 quadruply orthogonal pairs and 8 quintuply orthogonal pairs. These advances may provide a key foundation for encoded polymer synthesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adam T Beattie
- Medical Research Council Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Cambridge, UK
| | | | - Jason W Chin
- Medical Research Council Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Cambridge, UK.
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9
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Cronin CN. Optimization of genetic code expansion in the baculovirus expression vector system (BEVS). Protein Expr Purif 2023:106314. [PMID: 37269916 DOI: 10.1016/j.pep.2023.106314] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2023] [Revised: 05/30/2023] [Accepted: 06/01/2023] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
The production of recombinant proteins containing unnatural amino acids, commonly known as genetic code expansion (GCE), represents a breakthrough in protein engineering that allows for the creation of proteins having novel designed properties. The naturally occurring orthogonal pyrrolysine tRNA/aminoacyl-tRNApyl synthetase pair (tRNApyl/PylRS) found in Methanosarcinaceae species has provided a rich platform for protein engineers to build a library of amino acid derivatives suitable for the introduction of novel chemical functionalities. While reports of the production of such recombinant proteins utilizing the tRNApyl/PylRS pair, or mutants thereof, is commonplace in Escherichia coli and mammalian cell expression systems, there has only been a single such report of GCE in the other stalwart of recombinant protein production, the baculovirus expression vector system (BEVS). However, that report formulates protein production within the designs of the MultiBac expression system [1]. The current study frames protein production within the strategies of the more commonplace Bac-to-Bac system of recombinant baculovirus production, via the development of novel baculovirus transfer vectors that harbor the tRNApyl/PylRS pair. The production of recombinant proteins harboring an unnatural amino acid(s) was examined using both an in cis and an in trans arrangement of the tRNApyl/PylRS pair relative to the target protein ORF i.e. the latter resides, respectively, on either the same vector as the tRNApyl/PylRS pair, or on a separate vector and deployed in a viral co-infection experiment. Aspects of the transfer vector designs and the viral infection conditions were investigated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ciarán N Cronin
- Structural Biology and Protein Sciences, Pfizer Global Research, Development and Medical, 10770 Science Center Drive, La Jolla, CA, USA.
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10
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Update of the Pyrrolysyl-tRNA Synthetase/tRNA Pyl Pair and Derivatives for Genetic Code Expansion. J Bacteriol 2023; 205:e0038522. [PMID: 36695595 PMCID: PMC9945579 DOI: 10.1128/jb.00385-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
The cotranslational incorporation of pyrrolysine (Pyl), the 22nd proteinogenic amino acid, into proteins in response to the UAG stop codon represents an outstanding example of natural genetic code expansion. Genetic encoding of Pyl is conducted by the pyrrolysyl-tRNA synthetase (PylRS) and its cognate tRNA, tRNAPyl. Owing to the high tolerance of PylRS toward diverse amino acid substrates and great orthogonality in various model organisms, the PylRS/tRNAPyl-derived pairs are ideal for genetic code expansion to insert noncanonical amino acids (ncAAs) into proteins of interest. Since the discovery of cellular components involved in the biosynthesis and genetic encoding of Pyl, synthetic biologists have been enthusiastic about engineering PylRS/tRNAPyl-derived pairs to rewrite the genetic code of living cells. Recently, considerable progress has been made in understanding the molecular phylogeny, biochemical properties, and structural features of the PylRS/tRNAPyl pair, guiding its further engineering and optimization. In this review, we cover the basic and updated knowledge of the PylRS/tRNAPyl pair's unique characteristics that make it an outstanding tool for reprogramming the genetic code. In addition, we summarize the recent efforts to create efficient and (mutually) orthogonal PylRS/tRNAPyl-derived pairs for incorporation of diverse ncAAs by genome mining, rational design, and advanced directed evolution methods.
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11
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Díaz-Perlas C, Escobar-Rosales M, Morgan CW, Oller-Salvia B. Encoding Noncanonical Amino Acids into Phage Displayed Proteins. Methods Mol Biol 2023; 2676:117-129. [PMID: 37277628 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-3251-2_8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Phage display facilitates the evolution of peptides and proteins for affinity selection against targets, but it is mostly limited to the chemical diversity provided by the naturally encoded amino acids. The combination of phage display with genetic code expansion allows the incorporation of noncanonical amino acids (ncAAs) into proteins expressed on the phage. In this method, we describe incorporation of one or two ncAAs in a single-chain fragment variable (scFv) antibody in response to amber or quadruplet codon. We take advantage of the pyrrolysyl-tRNA synthetase/tRNA pair to incorporate a lysine derivative and an orthogonal tyrosyl-tRNA synthetase/tRNA pair to incorporate a phenylalanine derivative. The encoding of novel chemical functionalities and building blocks in proteins displayed on phage provides the foundation for further phage display applications in fields such as imaging, protein targeting, and the production of new materials.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Charles W Morgan
- Research School of Biology, The Australian National University, Canberra, Australia
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12
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Reinkemeier CD, Lemke EA. Synthetic Organelles for Multiple mRNA Selective Genetic Code Expansions in Eukaryotes. Methods Mol Biol 2023; 2563:341-369. [PMID: 36227482 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-2663-4_17] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Engineering new functionalities into living eukaryotic systems is one of the main goals of synthetic biology. To this end, often enzyme evolution or de novo protein design is employed, which each have their own advantages and disadvantages. As complimentary tools, we recently developed orthogonally translating and film-like synthetic organelles that allow to create new enzyme functionalities based on spatial separation. We applied this technology to genetic code expansion (GCE) and showed that it is possible to equip eukaryotic cells with multiple orthogonal genetic codes that enable the specific reprogramming of distinct translational machineries, each with single-residue precision.In this protocol, we describe how synthetic organelles can be used to perform mRNA selective GCE and how they can be further developed to allow the simultaneous incorporation of distinct noncanonical amino acids (ncAAs) into selected proteins and how this can be used to label proteins selectively with fluorescent dyes via bioorthogonal chemistry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher D Reinkemeier
- Biocentre, Departments of Biology and Chemistry, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Mainz, Germany
- Institute of Molecular Biology gGmbH, Mainz, Germany
| | - Edward A Lemke
- Biocentre, Departments of Biology and Chemistry, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Mainz, Germany.
- Institute of Molecular Biology gGmbH, Mainz, Germany.
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13
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Katoh T, Suga H. In Vitro Genetic Code Reprogramming for the Expansion of Usable Noncanonical Amino Acids. Annu Rev Biochem 2022; 91:221-243. [PMID: 35729073 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-biochem-040320-103817] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Genetic code reprogramming has enabled us to ribosomally incorporate various nonproteinogenic amino acids (npAAs) into peptides in vitro. The repertoire of usable npAAs has been expanded to include not only l-α-amino acids with noncanonical sidechains but also those with noncanonical backbones. Despite successful single incorporation of npAAs, multiple and consecutive incorporations often suffer from low efficiency or are even unsuccessful. To overcome this stumbling block, engineering approaches have been used to modify ribosomes, EF-Tu, and tRNAs. Here, we provide an overview of these in vitro methods that are aimed at optimal expansion of the npAA repertoire and their applications for the development of de novo bioactive peptides containing various npAAs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Takayuki Katoh
- Department of Chemistry, Graduate School of Science, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan; ,
| | - Hiroaki Suga
- Department of Chemistry, Graduate School of Science, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan; ,
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14
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Stieglitz JT, Lahiri P, Stout MI, Van Deventer JA. Exploration of Methanomethylophilus alvus Pyrrolysyl-tRNA Synthetase Activity in Yeast. ACS Synth Biol 2022; 11:1824-1834. [PMID: 35417129 PMCID: PMC10112046 DOI: 10.1021/acssynbio.2c00001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Archaeal pyrrolysyl-tRNA synthetases (PylRSs) have been used to genetically encode over 200 distinct noncanonical amino acids (ncAAs) in proteins in Escherichia coli and mammalian cells. This vastly expands the range of chemical functionality accessible within proteins produced in these organisms. Despite these clear successes, explorations of PylRS function in yeast remain limited. In this work, we demonstrate that the Methanomethylophilus alvus PylRS (MaPylRS) and its cognate tRNACUAMaPyl support the incorporation of ncAAs into proteins produced in Saccharomyces cerevisiae using stop codon suppression methodologies. Additionally, we prepared three MaPylRS mutants originally engineered in E. coli and determined that all three were active with one or more ncAAs, although with low efficiencies of ncAA incorporation in comparison to the parent MaPylRS. Alongside MaPylRS variants, we evaluated the activity of previously reported Methanosarcina mazei, Methanosarcina barkeri, and chimeric M. mazei and M. barkeri PylRSs. Using S. cerevisiae RJY100 and pairing these PylRSs with the M. mazei tRNACUA, we did not observe any detectable stop codon suppression activity under the same conditions that produced moderately efficient ncAA incorporation with MaPylRS. The addition of MaPylRS/tRNACUAMaPyl to the orthogonal translation machinery toolkit in S. cerevisiae potentially opens the door to hundreds of ncAAs that have not previously been genetically encodable using other aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase/tRNA pairs. Extending the scope of ncAA incorporation in yeast could powerfully advance chemical and biological research for applications ranging from basic biological discovery to enzyme engineering and therapeutic protein lead discovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica T. Stieglitz
- Chemical and Biological Engineering Department, Tufts University, Medford, Massachusetts 02155, United States
| | - Priyanka Lahiri
- Chemical and Biological Engineering Department, Tufts University, Medford, Massachusetts 02155, United States
| | - Matthew I. Stout
- Chemical and Biological Engineering Department, Tufts University, Medford, Massachusetts 02155, United States
| | - James A. Van Deventer
- Chemical and Biological Engineering Department, Tufts University, Medford, Massachusetts 02155, United States
- Biomedical Engineering Department, Tufts University, Medford, Massachusetts 02155, United States
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15
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Mala P, Saraogi I. Enhanced Codon-Anticodon Interaction at In-Frame UAG Stop Codon Improves the Efficiency of Non-Natural Amino Acid Mutagenesis. ACS Chem Biol 2022; 17:1051-1060. [PMID: 35532803 DOI: 10.1021/acschembio.1c00782] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
The introduction of non-natural amino acids into proteins through the stop codon readthrough methodology has been used to design proteins for diverse applications. However, this method suffers from low yields of the modified protein, as the suppressor tRNA that recognizes the stop codon is unable to compete effectively with release factor 1 (RF1), which terminates translation. We reasoned that a suppressor tRNA with improved interaction with the UAG stop codon on the mRNA will be able to compete more effectively with RF1. To test this idea, we inserted two 2,6-diaminopurine (D) units in the tRNA anticodon stem loop, including one at the third position of the tRNA anticodon. The modified suppressor tRNA could potentially form additional H-bonds between the N2-exocyclic amine of D and the C2 carbonyl group of uracil, thereby enhancing mRNA-tRNA interaction and/or altering tRNA conformation. The stronger interaction at the codon-anticodon interface resulted in improved UAG decoding efficiency and a higher yield of the modified protein containing a non-natural amino acid at multiple sites. Our findings are consistent with the importance of hydrogen bonding and tRNA conformation at the tRNA-mRNA duplex interface during in-frame UAG suppression, which improves protein translation at multiple UAG stop sites. This work provides valuable inputs toward improved non-natural amino acid mutagenesis for creating designer proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Purnima Mala
- Department of Biological Sciences, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Bhopal, Bhopal 462066, India
| | - Ishu Saraogi
- Department of Biological Sciences, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Bhopal, Bhopal 462066, India
- Department of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Bhopal, Bhopal 462066, India
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16
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Fischer JT, Söll D, Tharp JM. Directed Evolution of Methanomethylophilus alvus Pyrrolysyl-tRNA Synthetase Generates a Hyperactive and Highly Selective Variant. Front Mol Biosci 2022; 9:850613. [PMID: 35372501 PMCID: PMC8965510 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2022.850613] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2022] [Accepted: 02/15/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Pyrrolysyl-tRNA synthetase (PylRS) is frequently used for site-specific incorporation of noncanonical amino acids (ncAAs) into proteins. Recently, the active site of Methanomethylophilus alvus PylRS (MaPylRS) has been rationally engineered to expand its substrate compatibility, enabling the incorporation of difficult ncAAs. However, mutations beyond the active site that enhance the enzymatic properties of MaPylRS have not been reported. We utilized phage-assisted non-continuous evolution (PANCE) to evolve MaPylRS to efficiently incorporate Nε-Boc-l-lysine (BocK). Directed evolution yielded several mutations outside of the active site that greatly improve the activity of the enzyme. We combined the most effective mutations to generate a new PylRS variant (PylRSopt) that is highly active and selective towards several lysine and phenylalanine derivatives. The mutations in PylRSopt can be used to enhance previously engineered PylRS constructs such as MaPylRSN166S, and PylRSopt is compatible in applications requiring dual ncAA incorporation and substantially improves the yield of these target proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan T. Fischer
- Department of Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry, Yale University, New Haven, CT, United States
- *Correspondence: Jonathan T. Fischer,
| | - Dieter Söll
- Department of Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry, Yale University, New Haven, CT, United States
- Department of Chemistry, Yale University, New Haven, CT, United States
| | - Jeffery M. Tharp
- Department of Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry, Yale University, New Haven, CT, United States
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17
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Biddle W, Schwark DG, Schmitt MA, Fisk JD. Directed Evolution Pipeline for the Improvement of Orthogonal Translation Machinery for Genetic Code Expansion at Sense Codons. Front Chem 2022; 10:815788. [PMID: 35252113 PMCID: PMC8891652 DOI: 10.3389/fchem.2022.815788] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2021] [Accepted: 01/24/2022] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
The expansion of the genetic code beyond a single type of noncanonical amino acid (ncAA) is hindered by inefficient machinery for reassigning the meaning of sense codons. A major obstacle to using directed evolution to improve the efficiency of sense codon reassignment is that fractional sense codon reassignments lead to heterogeneous mixtures of full-length proteins with either a ncAA or a natural amino acid incorporated in response to the targeted codon. In stop codon suppression systems, missed incorporations lead to truncated proteins; improvements in activity may be inferred from increased protein yields or the production of downstream reporters. In sense codon reassignment, the heterogeneous proteins produced greatly complicate the development of screens for variants of the orthogonal machinery with improved activity. We describe the use of a previously-reported fluorescence-based screen for sense codon reassignment as the first step in a directed evolution workflow to improve the incorporation of a ncAA in response to the Arg AGG sense codon. We first screened a library with diversity introduced into both the orthogonal Methanocaldococcus jannaschii tyrosyl tRNA anticodon loop and the cognate aminoacyl tRNA synthetase (aaRS) anticodon binding domain for variants that improved incorporation of tyrosine in response to the AGG codon. The most efficient variants produced fluorescent proteins at levels indistinguishable from the E. coli translation machinery decoding tyrosine codons. Mutations to the M. jannaschii aaRS that were found to improve tyrosine incorporation were transplanted onto a M. jannaschii aaRS evolved for the incorporation of para-azidophenylalanine. Improved ncAA incorporation was evident using fluorescence- and mass-based reporters. The described workflow is generalizable and should enable the rapid tailoring of orthogonal machinery capable of activating diverse ncAAs to any sense codon target. We evaluated the selection based improvements of the orthogonal pair in a host genomically engineered for reduced target codon competition. Using this particular system for evaluation of arginine AGG codon reassignment, however, E. coli strains with genomes engineered to remove competing tRNAs did not outperform a standard laboratory E. coli strain in sense codon reassignment.
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18
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Lateef OM, Akintubosun MO, Olaoba OT, Samson SO, Adamczyk M. Making Sense of "Nonsense" and More: Challenges and Opportunities in the Genetic Code Expansion, in the World of tRNA Modifications. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:938. [PMID: 35055121 PMCID: PMC8779196 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23020938] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2021] [Revised: 01/10/2022] [Accepted: 01/12/2022] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
The evolutional development of the RNA translation process that leads to protein synthesis based on naturally occurring amino acids has its continuation via synthetic biology, the so-called rational bioengineering. Genetic code expansion (GCE) explores beyond the natural translational processes to further enhance the structural properties and augment the functionality of a wide range of proteins. Prokaryotic and eukaryotic ribosomal machinery have been proven to accept engineered tRNAs from orthogonal organisms to efficiently incorporate noncanonical amino acids (ncAAs) with rationally designed side chains. These side chains can be reactive or functional groups, which can be extensively utilized in biochemical, biophysical, and cellular studies. Genetic code extension offers the contingency of introducing more than one ncAA into protein through frameshift suppression, multi-site-specific incorporation of ncAAs, thereby increasing the vast number of possible applications. However, different mediating factors reduce the yield and efficiency of ncAA incorporation into synthetic proteins. In this review, we comment on the recent advancements in genetic code expansion to signify the relevance of systems biology in improving ncAA incorporation efficiency. We discuss the emerging impact of tRNA modifications and metabolism in protein design. We also provide examples of the latest successful accomplishments in synthetic protein therapeutics and show how codon expansion has been employed in various scientific and biotechnological applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olubodun Michael Lateef
- Faculty of Chemistry, Warsaw University of Technology, 00-664 Warsaw, Poland; (O.M.L.); (M.O.A.); (S.O.S.)
| | | | - Olamide Tosin Olaoba
- Laboratory of Functional and Structural Biochemistry, Federal University of Sao Carlos, Sao Carlos 13565-905, SP, Brazil;
| | - Sunday Ocholi Samson
- Faculty of Chemistry, Warsaw University of Technology, 00-664 Warsaw, Poland; (O.M.L.); (M.O.A.); (S.O.S.)
| | - Malgorzata Adamczyk
- Faculty of Chemistry, Warsaw University of Technology, 00-664 Warsaw, Poland; (O.M.L.); (M.O.A.); (S.O.S.)
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19
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Kim S, Yi H, Kim YT, Lee HS. Engineering Translation Components for Genetic Code Expansion. J Mol Biol 2021; 434:167302. [PMID: 34673113 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmb.2021.167302] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2021] [Revised: 09/26/2021] [Accepted: 10/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
The expansion of the genetic code consisting of four bases and 20 amino acids into diverse building blocks has been an exciting topic in synthetic biology. Many biochemical components are involved in gene expression; therefore, adding a new component to the genetic code requires engineering many other components that interact with it. Genetic code expansion has advanced significantly for the last two decades with the engineering of several components involved in protein synthesis. These components include tRNA/aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase, new codons, ribosomes, and elongation factor Tu. In addition, biosynthesis and enhanced uptake of non-canonical amino acids have been attempted and have made meaningful progress. This review discusses the efforts to engineer these translation components, to improve the genetic code expansion technology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sooin Kim
- Department of Chemistry, Sogang University, 35 Baekbeomro Mapogu, Seoul 04107, Republic of Korea
| | - Hanbin Yi
- Department of Chemistry, Sogang University, 35 Baekbeomro Mapogu, Seoul 04107, Republic of Korea
| | - Yurie T Kim
- Department of Chemistry, Sogang University, 35 Baekbeomro Mapogu, Seoul 04107, Republic of Korea
| | - Hyun Soo Lee
- Department of Chemistry, Sogang University, 35 Baekbeomro Mapogu, Seoul 04107, Republic of Korea.
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20
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Reinkemeier CD, Lemke EA. Dual film-like organelles enable spatial separation of orthogonal eukaryotic translation. Cell 2021; 184:4886-4903.e21. [PMID: 34433013 PMCID: PMC8480389 DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2021.08.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2020] [Revised: 05/03/2021] [Accepted: 08/02/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Engineering new functionality into living eukaryotic systems by enzyme evolution or de novo protein design is a formidable challenge. Cells do not rely exclusively on DNA-based evolution to generate new functionality but often utilize membrane encapsulation or formation of membraneless organelles to separate distinct molecular processes that execute complex operations. Applying this principle and the concept of two-dimensional phase separation, we develop film-like synthetic organelles that support protein translation on the surfaces of various cellular membranes. These sub-resolution synthetic films provide a path to make functionally distinct enzymes within the same cell. We use these film-like organelles to equip eukaryotic cells with dual orthogonal expanded genetic codes that enable the specific reprogramming of distinct translational machineries with single-residue precision. The ability to spatially tune the output of translation within tens of nanometers is not only important for synthetic biology but has implications for understanding the function of membrane-associated protein condensation in cells. 2D phase separation was utilized to design orthogonal enzymes Film-like organelles maintained distinct suppressor tRNA microenvironments Dual film-like synthetic organelles enabled orthogonal translation in eukaryotes Cells were equipped with two expanded genetic codes in addition to the canonical one
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher D Reinkemeier
- Biocentre, Departments of Biology and Chemistry, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Hanns-Dieter-Hüsch-Weg 17, 55128 Mainz, Germany; Institute of Molecular Biology gGmbH, Ackermannweg 4, 55128 Mainz, Germany; Structural and Computational Biology Unit and Cell Biology and Biophysics Unit, European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Meyerhofstrasse 1, 69117 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Edward A Lemke
- Biocentre, Departments of Biology and Chemistry, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Hanns-Dieter-Hüsch-Weg 17, 55128 Mainz, Germany; Institute of Molecular Biology gGmbH, Ackermannweg 4, 55128 Mainz, Germany; Structural and Computational Biology Unit and Cell Biology and Biophysics Unit, European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Meyerhofstrasse 1, 69117 Heidelberg, Germany.
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21
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Kofman C, Lee J, Jewett MC. Engineering molecular translation systems. Cell Syst 2021; 12:593-607. [PMID: 34139167 DOI: 10.1016/j.cels.2021.04.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2020] [Revised: 02/19/2021] [Accepted: 03/31/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Molecular translation systems provide a genetically encoded framework for protein synthesis, which is essential for all life. Engineering these systems to incorporate non-canonical amino acids (ncAAs) into peptides and proteins has opened many exciting opportunities in chemical and synthetic biology. Here, we review recent advances that are transforming our ability to engineer molecular translation systems. In cell-based systems, new processes to synthesize recoded genomes, tether ribosomal subunits, and engineer orthogonality with high-throughput workflows have emerged. In cell-free systems, adoption of flexizyme technology and cell-free ribosome synthesis and evolution platforms are expanding the limits of chemistry at the ribosome's RNA-based active site. Looking forward, innovations will deepen understanding of molecular translation and provide a path to polymers with previously unimaginable structures and functions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Camila Kofman
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Northwestern University, 2145 Sheridan Road, Evanston, IL 60208, USA
| | - Joongoo Lee
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Northwestern University, 2145 Sheridan Road, Evanston, IL 60208, USA; Department of Chemical Engineering, Pohang University of Science and Technology, Pohang 37673, Republic of Korea
| | - Michael C Jewett
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Northwestern University, 2145 Sheridan Road, Evanston, IL 60208, USA; Interdisplinary Biological Sciences Graduate Program, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL 60208, USA; Chemistry of Life Processes Institute, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL 60208, USA; Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL 60208, USA; Simpson Querrey Institute, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL 60208, USA; Center for Synthetic Biology, Northwestern University, 2145 Sheridan Road, Evanston, IL 60208, USA.
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22
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Schwark DG, Schmitt MA, Fisk JD. Directed Evolution of the Methanosarcina barkeri Pyrrolysyl tRNA/aminoacyl tRNA Synthetase Pair for Rapid Evaluation of Sense Codon Reassignment Potential. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:E895. [PMID: 33477414 PMCID: PMC7830368 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22020895] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2020] [Revised: 01/10/2021] [Accepted: 01/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Genetic code expansion has largely focused on the reassignment of amber stop codons to insert single copies of non-canonical amino acids (ncAAs) into proteins. Increasing effort has been directed at employing the set of aminoacyl tRNA synthetase (aaRS) variants previously evolved for amber suppression to incorporate multiple copies of ncAAs in response to sense codons in Escherichia coli. Predicting which sense codons are most amenable to reassignment and which orthogonal translation machinery is best suited to each codon is challenging. This manuscript describes the directed evolution of a new, highly efficient variant of the Methanosarcina barkeri pyrrolysyl orthogonal tRNA/aaRS pair that activates and incorporates tyrosine. The evolved M. barkeri tRNA/aaRS pair reprograms the amber stop codon with 98.1 ± 3.6% efficiency in E. coli DH10B, rivaling the efficiency of the wild-type tyrosine-incorporating Methanocaldococcus jannaschii orthogonal pair. The new orthogonal pair is deployed for the rapid evaluation of sense codon reassignment potential using our previously developed fluorescence-based screen. Measurements of sense codon reassignment efficiencies with the evolved M. barkeri machinery are compared with related measurements employing the M. jannaschii orthogonal pair system. Importantly, we observe different patterns of sense codon reassignment efficiency for the M. jannaschii tyrosyl and M. barkeri pyrrolysyl systems, suggesting that particular codons will be better suited to reassignment by different orthogonal pairs. A broad evaluation of sense codon reassignment efficiencies to tyrosine with the M. barkeri system will highlight the most promising positions at which the M. barkeri orthogonal pair may infiltrate the E. coli genetic code.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - John D. Fisk
- Department of Chemistry, University of Colorado Denver, Campus Box 194, P.O. Box 173364, Denver, CO 80217-3364, USA; (D.G.S.); (M.A.S.)
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23
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Hu L, Qin X, Huang Y, Cao W, Wang C, Wang Y, Ling X, Chen H, Wu D, Lin Y, Liu T. Thermophilic Pyrrolysyl-tRNA Synthetase Mutants for Enhanced Mammalian Genetic Code Expansion. ACS Synth Biol 2020; 9:2723-2736. [PMID: 32931698 DOI: 10.1021/acssynbio.0c00257] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Genetic code expansion (GCE) is a powerful technique for site-specific incorporation of noncanonical amino acids (ncAAs) into proteins in living cells, which is achieved through evolved aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase mutants. Stability is important for promoting enzyme evolution, and we found that many of the evolved synthetase mutants have reduced thermostabilities. In this study, we characterized two novel pyrrolysyl-tRNA synthetases (PylRSs) derived from thermophilic archaea: Methanosarcina thermophila (Mt) and Methanosarcina flavescens (Mf). Further study demonstrated that the wild-type PylRSs and several mutants were orthogonal and active in both Escherichia coli and mammalian cells and could thus be used for GCE. Compared with the commonly used M. barkeri PylRS, the wild-type thermophilic PylRSs displayed reduced GCE efficiency; however, some of the mutants, as well as some chimeras, outperformed their mesophilic counterparts in mammalian cell culture at 37 °C. Their better performance could at least partially be attributed to the fact that these thermophilic synthetases exhibit a threshold of enhanced stability against destabilizing mutations to accommodate structurally diverse substrate analogues. These were indicated by the higher melting temperatures (by 3-6 °C) and the higher expression levels that were typically observed for the MtPylRS and MfPylRS mutants relative to the Mb equivalents. Using histone H3 as an example, we demonstrated that one of the thermophilic synthetase mutants promoted the incorporation of multiple acetyl-lysine residues in mammalian cells. The enzymes developed in this study add to the PylRS toolbox and provide potentially better scaffolds for PylRS engineering and evolution, which will be necessary to meet the increasing demands for expanded substrate repertoire with better efficiency and specificity in mammalian systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liming Hu
- State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, Department of Molecular and Cellular Pharmacology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University, 38 Xueyuan Road, Haidian District, Beijing 100191, China
| | - Xuewen Qin
- State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, Department of Molecular and Cellular Pharmacology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University, 38 Xueyuan Road, Haidian District, Beijing 100191, China
| | - Yujia Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, Department of Molecular and Cellular Pharmacology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University, 38 Xueyuan Road, Haidian District, Beijing 100191, China
| | - Wenbing Cao
- State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, Department of Molecular and Cellular Pharmacology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University, 38 Xueyuan Road, Haidian District, Beijing 100191, China
- College of Chemistry, State Key Laboratory of Elemento-Organic Chemistry, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China
| | - Chuchen Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, Department of Molecular and Cellular Pharmacology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University, 38 Xueyuan Road, Haidian District, Beijing 100191, China
| | - Yong Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, Department of Molecular and Cellular Pharmacology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University, 38 Xueyuan Road, Haidian District, Beijing 100191, China
| | - Xinyu Ling
- State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, Department of Molecular and Cellular Pharmacology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University, 38 Xueyuan Road, Haidian District, Beijing 100191, China
| | - Heqi Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, Department of Molecular and Cellular Pharmacology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University, 38 Xueyuan Road, Haidian District, Beijing 100191, China
| | - Dan Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, Department of Molecular and Cellular Pharmacology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University, 38 Xueyuan Road, Haidian District, Beijing 100191, China
| | - Yu Lin
- State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, Department of Molecular and Cellular Pharmacology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University, 38 Xueyuan Road, Haidian District, Beijing 100191, China
| | - Tao Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, Department of Molecular and Cellular Pharmacology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University, 38 Xueyuan Road, Haidian District, Beijing 100191, China
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24
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Tseng HW, Baumann T, Sun H, Wang YS, Ignatova Z, Budisa N. Expanding the Scope of Orthogonal Translation with Pyrrolysyl-tRNA Synthetases Dedicated to Aromatic Amino Acids. Molecules 2020; 25:E4418. [PMID: 32992991 PMCID: PMC7582959 DOI: 10.3390/molecules25194418] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2020] [Revised: 09/18/2020] [Accepted: 09/22/2020] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
In protein engineering and synthetic biology, Methanosarcina mazei pyrrolysyl-tRNA synthetase (MmPylRS), with its cognate tRNAPyl, is one of the most popular tools for site-specific incorporation of non-canonical amino acids (ncAAs). Numerous orthogonal pairs based on engineered MmPylRS variants have been developed during the last decade, enabling a substantial genetic code expansion, mainly with aliphatic pyrrolysine analogs. However, comparatively less progress has been made to expand the substrate range of MmPylRS towards aromatic amino acid residues. Therefore, we set to further expand the substrate scope of orthogonal translation by a semi-rational approach; redesigning the MmPylRS efficiency. Based on the randomization of residues from the binding pocket and tRNA binding domain, we identify three positions (V401, W417 and S193) crucial for ncAA specificity and enzyme activity. Their systematic mutagenesis enabled us to generate MmPylRS variants dedicated to tryptophan (such as β-(1-Azulenyl)-l-alanine or 1-methyl-l-tryptophan) and tyrosine (mainly halogenated) analogs. Moreover, our strategy also significantly improves the orthogonal translation efficiency with the previously activated analog 3-benzothienyl-l-alanine. Our study revealed the engineering of both first shell and distant residues to modify substrate specificity as an important strategy to further expand our ability to discover and recruit new ncAAs for orthogonal translation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hsueh-Wei Tseng
- Institut für Chemie, Technische Universität Berlin, Müller-Breslau-Straße 10, 10623 Berlin, Germany; (H.-W.T.); (T.B.); (H.S.)
| | - Tobias Baumann
- Institut für Chemie, Technische Universität Berlin, Müller-Breslau-Straße 10, 10623 Berlin, Germany; (H.-W.T.); (T.B.); (H.S.)
| | - Huan Sun
- Institut für Chemie, Technische Universität Berlin, Müller-Breslau-Straße 10, 10623 Berlin, Germany; (H.-W.T.); (T.B.); (H.S.)
| | - Yane-Shih Wang
- Institute of Biological Chemistry, Academia Sinica, Taipei 116, Taiwan;
- Institute of Biochemical Sciences, National Taiwan University, Taipei 116, Taiwan
| | - Zoya Ignatova
- Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Hamburg, 20146 Hamburg, Germany;
| | - Nediljko Budisa
- Institut für Chemie, Technische Universität Berlin, Müller-Breslau-Straße 10, 10623 Berlin, Germany; (H.-W.T.); (T.B.); (H.S.)
- Department of Chemistry, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB R3T 2N2, Canada
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25
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Abstract
The aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases are an essential and universally distributed family of enzymes that plays a critical role in protein synthesis, pairing tRNAs with their cognate amino acids for decoding mRNAs according to the genetic code. Synthetases help to ensure accurate translation of the genetic code by using both highly accurate cognate substrate recognition and stringent proofreading of noncognate products. While alterations in the quality control mechanisms of synthetases are generally detrimental to cellular viability, recent studies suggest that in some instances such changes facilitate adaption to stress conditions. Beyond their central role in translation, synthetases are also emerging as key players in an increasing number of other cellular processes, with far-reaching consequences in health and disease. The biochemical versatility of the synthetases has also proven pivotal in efforts to expand the genetic code, further emphasizing the wide-ranging roles of the aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase family in synthetic and natural biology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miguel Angel Rubio Gomez
- Center for RNA Biology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio 43210, USA Department of Microbiology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio 43210, USA
| | - Michael Ibba
- Center for RNA Biology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio 43210, USA Department of Microbiology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio 43210, USA
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26
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Wu Y, Wang Z, Qiao X, Li J, Shu X, Qi H. Emerging Methods for Efficient and Extensive Incorporation of Non-canonical Amino Acids Using Cell-Free Systems. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2020; 8:863. [PMID: 32793583 PMCID: PMC7387428 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2020.00863] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2020] [Accepted: 07/06/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Cell-free protein synthesis (CFPS) has emerged as a novel protein expression platform. Especially the incorporation of non-canonical amino acids (ncAAs) has led to the development of numerous flexible methods for efficient and extensive expression of artificial proteins. Approaches were developed to eliminate the endogenous competition for ncAAs and engineer translation factors, which significantly enhanced the incorporation efficiency. Furthermore, in vitro aminoacylation methods can be conveniently combined with cell-free systems, extensively expanding the available ncAAs with novel and unique moieties. In this review, we summarize the recent progresses on the efficient and extensive incorporation of ncAAs by different strategies based on the elimination of competition by endogenous factors, translation factors engineering and extensive incorporation of novel ncAAs coupled with in vitro aminoacylation methods in CFPS. We also aim to offer new ideas to researchers working on ncAA incorporation techniques in CFPS and applications in various emerging fields.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yang Wu
- School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin, China.,Key Laboratory of Systems Bioengineering, Ministry of Education, Tianjin University, Tianjin, China
| | - Zhaoguan Wang
- School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin, China.,Key Laboratory of Systems Bioengineering, Ministry of Education, Tianjin University, Tianjin, China
| | - Xin Qiao
- School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin, China.,Key Laboratory of Systems Bioengineering, Ministry of Education, Tianjin University, Tianjin, China
| | - Jiaojiao Li
- School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin, China.,Key Laboratory of Systems Bioengineering, Ministry of Education, Tianjin University, Tianjin, China
| | - Xiangrong Shu
- Department of Pharmacy, Tianjin Huanhu Hospital, Tianjin, China
| | - Hao Qi
- School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin, China.,Key Laboratory of Systems Bioengineering, Ministry of Education, Tianjin University, Tianjin, China
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27
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Engineering a Polyspecific Pyrrolysyl-tRNA Synthetase by a High Throughput FACS Screen. Sci Rep 2019; 9:11971. [PMID: 31427620 PMCID: PMC6700097 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-48357-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2019] [Accepted: 08/01/2019] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
The Pyrrolysyl-tRNA synthetase (PylRS) and its cognate tRNAPyl are extensively used to add non-canonical amino acids (ncAAs) to the genetic code of bacterial and eukaryotic cells. However, new ncAAs often require a cumbersome de novo engineering process to generate an appropriate PylRS/tRNAPyl pair. We here report a strategy to predict a PylRS variant with novel properties. The designed polyspecific PylRS variant HpRS catalyzes the aminoacylation of 31 structurally diverse ncAAs bearing clickable, fluorinated, fluorescent, and for the first time biotinylated entities. Moreover, we demonstrated a site-specific and copper-free conjugation strategy of a nanobody by the incorporation of biotin. The design of polyspecific PylRS variants offers an attractive alternative to existing screening approaches and provides insights into the complex PylRS-substrate interactions.
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28
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Feldman AW, Dien VT, Karadeema RJ, Fischer EC, You Y, Anderson BA, Krishnamurthy R, Chen JS, Li L, Romesberg FE. Optimization of Replication, Transcription, and Translation in a Semi-Synthetic Organism. J Am Chem Soc 2019; 141:10644-10653. [PMID: 31241334 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.9b02075] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Previously, we reported the creation of a semi-synthetic organism (SSO) that stores and retrieves increased information by virtue of stably maintaining an unnatural base pair (UBP) in its DNA, transcribing the corresponding unnatural nucleotides into the codons and anticodons of mRNAs and tRNAs, and then using them to produce proteins containing noncanonical amino acids (ncAAs). Here we report a systematic extension of the effort to optimize the SSO by exploring a variety of deoxy- and ribonucleotide analogues. Importantly, this includes the first in vivo structure-activity relationship (SAR) analysis of unnatural ribonucleoside triphosphates. Similarities and differences between how DNA and RNA polymerases recognize the unnatural nucleotides were observed, and remarkably, we found that a wide variety of unnatural ribonucleotides can be efficiently transcribed into RNA and then productively and selectively paired at the ribosome to mediate the synthesis of proteins with ncAAs. The results extend previous studies, demonstrating that nucleotides bearing no significant structural or functional homology to the natural nucleotides can be efficiently and selectively paired during replication, to include each step of the entire process of information storage and retrieval. From a practical perspective, the results identify the most optimal UBP for replication and transcription, as well as the most optimal unnatural ribonucleoside triphosphates for transcription and translation. The optimized SSO is now, for the first time, able to efficiently produce proteins containing multiple, proximal ncAAs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aaron W Feldman
- Department of Chemistry , The Scripps Research Institute , 10550 North Torrey Pines Road , La Jolla , California 92037 , United States
| | - Vivian T Dien
- Department of Chemistry , The Scripps Research Institute , 10550 North Torrey Pines Road , La Jolla , California 92037 , United States
| | - Rebekah J Karadeema
- Department of Chemistry , The Scripps Research Institute , 10550 North Torrey Pines Road , La Jolla , California 92037 , United States
| | - Emil C Fischer
- Department of Chemistry , The Scripps Research Institute , 10550 North Torrey Pines Road , La Jolla , California 92037 , United States
| | - Yanbo You
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering , Henan Normal University , Henan 453007 , P. R. China
| | - Brooke A Anderson
- Department of Chemistry , The Scripps Research Institute , 10550 North Torrey Pines Road , La Jolla , California 92037 , United States
| | - Ramanarayanan Krishnamurthy
- Department of Chemistry , The Scripps Research Institute , 10550 North Torrey Pines Road , La Jolla , California 92037 , United States
| | - Jason S Chen
- Department of Chemistry , The Scripps Research Institute , 10550 North Torrey Pines Road , La Jolla , California 92037 , United States
| | - Lingjun Li
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering , Henan Normal University , Henan 453007 , P. R. China
| | - Floyd E Romesberg
- Department of Chemistry , The Scripps Research Institute , 10550 North Torrey Pines Road , La Jolla , California 92037 , United States
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29
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Araman C, 't Hart BA. Neurodegeneration meets immunology - A chemical biology perspective. Bioorg Med Chem 2019; 27:1911-1924. [PMID: 30910473 DOI: 10.1016/j.bmc.2019.03.038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2019] [Revised: 03/14/2019] [Accepted: 03/19/2019] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- C Araman
- Leiden Institute of Chemistry and the Institute for Chemical Immunology, Leiden University, Leiden, The Netherlands.
| | - B A 't Hart
- University of Groningen, Department of Biomedical Sciences of Cells and Systems, University Medical Centre, Groningen, The Netherlands; Department Anatomy and Neuroscience, Free University Medical Center (VUmc), Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
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30
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Gerrits M, Budisa N, Merk H. Site-Specific Chemoselective Pyrrolysine Analogues Incorporation Using the Cell-Free Protein Synthesis System. ACS Synth Biol 2019; 8:381-390. [PMID: 30589532 DOI: 10.1021/acssynbio.8b00421] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Abstract
Cell-free protein synthesis (CFPS) is a fast and convenient way to synthesize proteins for analytical studies and applications. CFPS, when equipped with a suitable orthogonal pair, allows for protein-site-directed labeling with desired functionalities such as fluorescent dyes or therapeutic groups that are needed to tailor proteins for analytical applications. In this context, chemoselective reactive pyrrolysine analogues (CR-OAs) are of particular value, as this class of unnatural amino acids, among other useful properties, covers a wide range of different chemoselective reactions. In this study, we present a flexible approach that facilitates incorporation of CR-OAs in CFPS systems. In particular, a fairly simple addition of two expression plasmids in our cell-free system, one encoding pyrrolysyl-tRNA synthetase and the other one the target protein, enabled ribosomal synthesis of proteins in the half-milligram range with the pre-installed orthogonal reactivity, easily modifiable by using mild, copper-free bioorthogonal chemistry. Our CFPS system allows rapid and highly customizable expression, as shown by several examples of successful site-directed fluorescence labeling. The feasibility of our CFPS system for protein analytics is further proved by demonstrating the functional integrity of a labeled protein by interaction measurements using microscale thermophoresis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael Gerrits
- Biocatalysis Group, Department of Chemistry, Technische Universität Berlin, 10623 Berlin, Germany
- biotechrabbit GmbH, 12489 Berlin, Germany
| | - Nediljko Budisa
- Biocatalysis Group, Department of Chemistry, Technische Universität Berlin, 10623 Berlin, Germany
- Chemical Synthetic Biology, Department of Chemistry, University of Manitoba, 144 Dysart Road, R3T 2N2 Winnipeg, MB, Canada
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31
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Abstract
Expanding the genetic code to enable the incorporation of unnatural amino acids into proteins in biological systems provides a powerful tool for studying protein structure and function. While this technology has been mostly developed and applied in bacterial and mammalian cells, it recently expanded into animals, including worms, fruit flies, zebrafish, and mice. In this review, we highlight recent advances toward the methodology development of genetic code expansion in animal model organisms. We further illustrate the applications, including proteomic labeling in fruit flies and mice and optical control of protein function in mice and zebrafish. We summarize the challenges of unnatural amino acid mutagenesis in animals and the promising directions toward broad application of this emerging technology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wes Brown
- Department of Chemistry, University of Pittsburgh, 219 Parkman Avenue, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15237, United States
| | - Jihe Liu
- Department of Chemistry, University of Pittsburgh, 219 Parkman Avenue, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15237, United States
| | - Alexander Deiters
- Department of Chemistry, University of Pittsburgh, 219 Parkman Avenue, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15237, United States
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32
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Fladischer P, Weingartner A, Blamauer J, Darnhofer B, Birner-Gruenberger R, Kardashliev T, Ruff AJ, Schwaneberg U, Wiltschi B. A Semi-Rationally Engineered Bacterial Pyrrolysyl-tRNA Synthetase Genetically Encodes Phenyl Azide Chemistry. Biotechnol J 2018; 14:e1800125. [DOI: 10.1002/biot.201800125] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2018] [Revised: 05/25/2018] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Patrik Fladischer
- Acib − Austrian Centre of Industrial Biotechnology; Petersgasse 14 A-8010 Graz Austria
- Institute of Molecular Biotechnology; Graz University of Technology; Graz Austria
| | - Alexandra Weingartner
- Acib − Austrian Centre of Industrial Biotechnology; Petersgasse 14 A-8010 Graz Austria
- Institute of Molecular Biotechnology; Graz University of Technology; Graz Austria
| | - Johannes Blamauer
- Acib − Austrian Centre of Industrial Biotechnology; Petersgasse 14 A-8010 Graz Austria
- Institute of Molecular Biotechnology; Graz University of Technology; Graz Austria
| | - Barbara Darnhofer
- Acib − Austrian Centre of Industrial Biotechnology; Petersgasse 14 A-8010 Graz Austria
- Research Unit Functional Proteomics and Metabolomic Pathways; Institute of Pathology; Medical University of Graz; Graz Austria
- Omics Center Graz; BioTechMed-Graz; Graz Austria
| | - Ruth Birner-Gruenberger
- Research Unit Functional Proteomics and Metabolomic Pathways; Institute of Pathology; Medical University of Graz; Graz Austria
- Omics Center Graz; BioTechMed-Graz; Graz Austria
| | | | - Anna Joelle Ruff
- Lehrstuhl für Biotechnologie; RWTH Aachen University; Aachen Germany
| | | | - Birgit Wiltschi
- Acib − Austrian Centre of Industrial Biotechnology; Petersgasse 14 A-8010 Graz Austria
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33
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Xuan W, Collins D, Koh M, Shao S, Yao A, Xiao H, Garner P, Schultz PG. Site-Specific Incorporation of a Thioester Containing Amino Acid into Proteins. ACS Chem Biol 2018; 13:578-581. [PMID: 29360343 PMCID: PMC5856652 DOI: 10.1021/acschembio.7b00998] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
![]()
Here,
we report the site-specific incorporation of a thioester
containing noncanonical amino acid (ncAA) into recombinantly expressed
proteins. Specifically, we genetically encoded a thioester-activated
aspartic acid (ThioD) in bacteria in good yield and with high fidelity
using an orthogonal nonsense suppressor tRNA/aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase
(aaRS) pair. To demonstrate the utility of ThioD, we used native chemical
ligation to label green fluorescent protein with a fluorophore in
good yield.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weimin Xuan
- Department of Chemistry and Skaggs Institute for Chemical Biology, The Scripps Research Institute, 10550 N Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, California 92037, United States
| | - Daniel Collins
- Department of Chemistry, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington 99164-4630, United States
| | - Minseob Koh
- Department of Chemistry and Skaggs Institute for Chemical Biology, The Scripps Research Institute, 10550 N Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, California 92037, United States
| | - Sida Shao
- Department of Chemistry and Skaggs Institute for Chemical Biology, The Scripps Research Institute, 10550 N Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, California 92037, United States
| | - Anzhi Yao
- Department of Chemistry and Skaggs Institute for Chemical Biology, The Scripps Research Institute, 10550 N Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, California 92037, United States
| | - Han Xiao
- Department of Chemistry and Skaggs Institute for Chemical Biology, The Scripps Research Institute, 10550 N Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, California 92037, United States
| | - Philip Garner
- Department of Chemistry, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington 99164-4630, United States
| | - Peter G. Schultz
- Department of Chemistry and Skaggs Institute for Chemical Biology, The Scripps Research Institute, 10550 N Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, California 92037, United States
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34
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Yu Y, Hu C, Xia L, Wang J. Artificial Metalloenzyme Design with Unnatural Amino Acids and Non-Native Cofactors. ACS Catal 2018. [DOI: 10.1021/acscatal.7b03754] [Citation(s) in RCA: 65] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Yang Yu
- Tianjin
Institute of Industrial Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 32 West Seventh Avenue, Tianjin Airport Economic Area, Tianjin 300308, China
| | - Cheng Hu
- Laboratory
of RNA Biology, Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 15 Datun Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Lin Xia
- Center
for Synthetic Biology Engineering Research, Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518055, China
| | - Jiangyun Wang
- Laboratory
of RNA Biology, Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 15 Datun Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing 100101, China
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35
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Sharma V, Zeng Y, Wang WW, Qiao Y, Kurra Y, Liu WR. Evolving the N-Terminal Domain of Pyrrolysyl-tRNA Synthetase for Improved Incorporation of Noncanonical Amino Acids. Chembiochem 2017; 19:26-30. [PMID: 29096043 DOI: 10.1002/cbic.201700268] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2017] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
By evolving the N-terminal domain of Methanosarcina mazei pyrrolysyl-tRNA synthetase (PylRS) that directly interacts with tRNAPyl , a mutant clone displaying improved amber-suppression efficiency for the genetic incorporation of Nϵ -(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-l-lysine threefold more than the wild type was identified. The identified mutations were R19H/H29R/T122S. Direct transfer of these mutations to two other PylRS mutants that were previously evolved for the genetic incorporation of Nϵ -acetyl-l-lysine and Nϵ -(4-azidobenzoxycarbonyl)-l-δ,ϵ-dehydrolysine also improved the incorporation efficiency of these two noncanonical amino acids. As the three identified mutations were found in the N-terminal domain of PylRS that was separated from its catalytic domain for charging tRNAPyl with a noncanonical amino acid, they could potentially be introduced to all other PylRS mutants to improve the incorporation efficiency of their corresponding noncanonical amino acids. Therefore, it represents a general strategy to optimize the pyrrolysine incorporation system-based noncanonical amino-acid mutagenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vangmayee Sharma
- Department of Chemistry, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, 77843, USA
| | - Yu Zeng
- Department of Chemistry, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, 77843, USA
| | - W Wesley Wang
- Department of Chemistry, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, 77843, USA
| | - Yuchen Qiao
- Department of Chemistry, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, 77843, USA
| | - Yadagiri Kurra
- Department of Chemistry, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, 77843, USA
| | - Wenshe R Liu
- Department of Chemistry, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, 77843, USA
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36
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Lopatniuk M, Myronovskyi M, Luzhetskyy A. Streptomyces albus: A New Cell Factory for Non-Canonical Amino Acids Incorporation into Ribosomally Synthesized Natural Products. ACS Chem Biol 2017; 12:2362-2370. [PMID: 28758722 DOI: 10.1021/acschembio.7b00359] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
The incorporation of noncanonical amino acids (ncAAs) with different side chains into a peptide is a promising technique for changing the functional properties of that peptide. Of particular interest is the incorporation of ncAAs into peptide-derived natural products to optimize their biophysical properties for medical and industrial applications. Here, we present the first instance of ncAA incorporation into the natural product cinnamycin in streptomycetes using the orthogonal pyrrolysyl-tRNA synthetase/tRNAPyl pair from Methanosarcina barkeri. This approach allows site-specific incorporation of ncAAs via the read-through of a stop codon by the suppressor tRNAPyl, which can carry different pyrrolysine analogues. Five new deoxycinnamycin derivatives were obtained with three distinct pyrrolysine analogues incorporated into diverse positions of the antibiotic. The combination of partial hydrolysis and MS/MS fragmentation analysis was used to verify the exact position of the incorporation events. The introduction of ncAAs into different positions of the peptide had opposite effects on the peptide's biological activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mariia Lopatniuk
- Department
of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Saarland University, 66123 Saarbrücken, Germany
| | - Maksym Myronovskyi
- Department
of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Saarland University, 66123 Saarbrücken, Germany
| | - Andriy Luzhetskyy
- Department
of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Saarland University, 66123 Saarbrücken, Germany
- Helmholtz-Institute for Pharmaceutical Research, Saarland Campus, Building C2.3, 66123 Saarbrücken, Germany
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37
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Brabham R, Fascione MA. Pyrrolysine Amber Stop-Codon Suppression: Development and Applications. Chembiochem 2017; 18:1973-1983. [DOI: 10.1002/cbic.201700148] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2017] [Revised: 07/28/2017] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Robin Brabham
- York Structural Biology Laboratory; Department of Chemistry; University of York; Heslington Road York YO10 5DD UK
| | - Martin A. Fascione
- York Structural Biology Laboratory; Department of Chemistry; University of York; Heslington Road York YO10 5DD UK
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38
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Owens AE, Grasso KT, Ziegler CA, Fasan R. Two-Tier Screening Platform for Directed Evolution of Aminoacyl-tRNA Synthetases with Enhanced Stop Codon Suppression Efficiency. Chembiochem 2017; 18:1109-1116. [PMID: 28383180 PMCID: PMC5586079 DOI: 10.1002/cbic.201700039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2017] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
Genetic code expansion through amber stop codon suppression provides a powerful tool for introducing non-proteinogenic functionalities into proteins for a broad range of applications. However, ribosomal incorporation of noncanonical amino acids (ncAAs) by means of engineered aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases (aaRSs) often proceeds with significantly reduced efficiency compared to sense codon translation. Here, we report the implementation of a versatile platform for the development of engineered aaRSs with enhanced efficiency in mediating ncAA incorporation by amber stop codon suppression. This system integrates a white/blue colony screen with a plate-based colorimetric assay, thereby combining high-throughput capabilities with reliable and quantitative measurement of aaRS-dependent ncAA incorporation efficiency. This two-tier functional screening system was successfully applied to obtain a pyrrolysyl-tRNA synthetase (PylRS) variant (CrtK-RS(4.1)) with significantly improved efficiency (+250-370 %) for mediating the incorporation of Nϵ -crotonyl-lysine and other lysine analogues of relevance for the study of protein post-translational modifications into a target protein. Interestingly, the beneficial mutations accumulated by CrtK-RS(4.1) were found to localize within the noncatalytic N-terminal domain of the enzyme and could be transferred to another PylRS variant, improving the ability of the variant to incorporate its corresponding ncAA substrate. This work introduces an efficient platform for the improvement of aaRSs that could be readily extended to other members of this enzyme family and/or other target ncAAs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew E Owens
- Department of Chemistry, University of Rochester, Hutchinson Hall, Rochester, NY, 14627, USA
| | - Katherine T Grasso
- Department of Chemistry, University of Rochester, Hutchinson Hall, Rochester, NY, 14627, USA
| | - Christine A Ziegler
- Department of Chemistry, University of Rochester, Hutchinson Hall, Rochester, NY, 14627, USA
| | - Rudi Fasan
- Department of Chemistry, University of Rochester, Hutchinson Hall, Rochester, NY, 14627, USA
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39
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Bi X, Pasunooti KK, Lescar J, Liu CF. Thiazolidine-Masked α-Oxo Aldehyde Functionality for Peptide and Protein Modification. Bioconjug Chem 2016; 28:325-329. [PMID: 28026933 DOI: 10.1021/acs.bioconjchem.6b00667] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
α-Oxo aldehyde-based bioconjugation chemistry has been widely explored in peptide and protein modifications for various applications in biomedical research during the past decades. The generation of α-oxo aldehyde via sodium periodate oxidation is usually limited to the N-terminus of a target protein. Internal-site functionalization of proteins with the α-oxo aldehyde handle has not been achieved yet. Herein we report a novel method for site-specific peptide and protein modification using synthetically or genetically incorporated thiazolidine-protected α-oxo aldehyde. Efficient unmasking of the aldehyde was achieved by silver ion-mediated hydrolysis of thiazolidine under mild conditions for the first time. A model peptide and a recombinant protein were used to demonstrate the utility of this new method, which were site-specifically modified by oxime ligation with an oxyamine-functionalized peptide labeling reagent. Therefore, our current method has enriched the α-oxo aldehyde synthetic tool box in peptide and protein bioconjugation chemistry and holds great potential to be explored in novel applications in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaobao Bi
- School of Biological Sciences, Nanyang Technological University , 60 Nanyang Drive, 637551, Singapore
| | - Kalyan Kumar Pasunooti
- School of Biological Sciences, Nanyang Technological University , 60 Nanyang Drive, 637551, Singapore
| | - Julien Lescar
- School of Biological Sciences, Nanyang Technological University , 60 Nanyang Drive, 637551, Singapore
| | - Chuan-Fa Liu
- School of Biological Sciences, Nanyang Technological University , 60 Nanyang Drive, 637551, Singapore
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40
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Wandrey G, Wurzel J, Hoffmann K, Ladner T, Büchs J, Meinel L, Lühmann T. Probing unnatural amino acid integration into enhanced green fluorescent protein by genetic code expansion with a high-throughput screening platform. J Biol Eng 2016; 10:11. [PMID: 27733867 PMCID: PMC5045631 DOI: 10.1186/s13036-016-0031-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2016] [Accepted: 09/14/2016] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Genetic code expansion has developed into an elegant tool to incorporate unnatural amino acids (uAA) at predefined sites in the protein backbone in response to an amber codon. However, recombinant production and yield of uAA comprising proteins are challenged due to the additional translation machinery required for uAA incorporation. RESULTS We developed a microtiter plate-based high-throughput monitoring system (HTMS) to study and optimize uAA integration in the model protein enhanced green fluorescence protein (eGFP). Two uAA, propargyl-L-lysine (Plk) and (S)-2-amino-6-((2-azidoethoxy) carbonylamino) hexanoic acid (Alk), were incorporated at the same site into eGFP co-expressing the native PylRS/tRNAPylCUA pair originating from Methanosarcina barkeri in E. coli. The site-specific uAA functionalization was confirmed by LC-MS/MS analysis. uAA-eGFP production and biomass growth in parallelized E. coli cultivations was correlated to (i) uAA concentration and the (ii) time of uAA addition to the expression medium as well as to induction parameters including the (iii) time and (iv) amount of IPTG supplementation. The online measurements of the HTMS were consolidated by end point-detection using standard enzyme-linked immunosorbent procedures. CONCLUSION The developed HTMS is powerful tool for parallelized and rapid screening. In light of uAA integration, future applications may include parallelized screening of different PylRS/tRNAPylCUA pairs as well as further optimization of culture conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Georg Wandrey
- AVT, Biochemical Engineering, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, 52074 Germany
| | - Joel Wurzel
- Institute for Pharmacy and Food Chemistry, University of Würzburg, Am Hubland, Würzburg, 97074 Germany
| | - Kyra Hoffmann
- AVT, Biochemical Engineering, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, 52074 Germany
| | - Tobias Ladner
- AVT, Biochemical Engineering, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, 52074 Germany
| | - Jochen Büchs
- AVT, Biochemical Engineering, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, 52074 Germany
| | - Lorenz Meinel
- Institute for Pharmacy and Food Chemistry, University of Würzburg, Am Hubland, Würzburg, 97074 Germany
| | - Tessa Lühmann
- Institute for Pharmacy and Food Chemistry, University of Würzburg, Am Hubland, Würzburg, 97074 Germany
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41
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Crnković A, Suzuki T, Söll D, Reynolds NM. Pyrrolysyl-tRNA synthetase, an aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase for genetic code expansion. CROAT CHEM ACTA 2016; 89:163-174. [PMID: 28239189 PMCID: PMC5321558 DOI: 10.5562/cca2825] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Genetic code expansion (GCE) has become a central topic of synthetic biology. GCE relies on engineered aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases (aaRSs) and a cognate tRNA species to allow codon reassignment by co-translational insertion of non-canonical amino acids (ncAAs) into proteins. Introduction of such amino acids increases the chemical diversity of recombinant proteins endowing them with novel properties. Such proteins serve in sophisticated biochemical and biophysical studies both in vitro and in vivo, they may become unique biomaterials or therapeutic agents, and they afford metabolic dependence of genetically modified organisms for biocontainment purposes. In the Methanosarcinaceae the incorporation of the 22nd genetically encoded amino acid, pyrrolysine (Pyl), is facilitated by pyrrolysyl-tRNA synthetase (PylRS) and the cognate UAG-recognizing tRNAPyl. This unique aaRS•tRNA pair functions as an orthogonal translation system (OTS) in most model organisms. The facile directed evolution of the large PylRS active site to accommodate many ncAAs, and the enzyme's anticodon-blind specific recognition of the cognate tRNAPyl make this system highly amenable for GCE purposes. The remarkable polyspecificity of PylRS has been exploited to incorporate >100 different ncAAs into proteins. Here we review the Pyl-OT system and selected GCE applications to examine the properties of an effective OTS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Crnković
- Department of Molecular Biophysics & Biochemistry, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06520-8114, USA
| | - Tateki Suzuki
- Department of Molecular Biophysics & Biochemistry, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06520-8114, USA
| | - Dieter Söll
- Department of Molecular Biophysics & Biochemistry, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06520-8114, USA
- Department of Chemistry, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06520-8114, USA
| | - Noah M. Reynolds
- Department of Molecular Biophysics & Biochemistry, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06520-8114, USA
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42
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Transfer RNA: From pioneering crystallographic studies to contemporary tRNA biology. Arch Biochem Biophys 2016; 602:95-105. [PMID: 26968773 DOI: 10.1016/j.abb.2016.03.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2015] [Revised: 02/29/2016] [Accepted: 03/03/2016] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Transfer RNAs (tRNAs) play a key role in protein synthesis as adaptor molecules between messenger RNA and protein sequences on the ribosome. Their discovery in the early sixties provoked a worldwide infatuation with the study of their architecture and their function in the decoding of genetic information. tRNAs are also emblematic molecules in crystallography: the determination of the first tRNA crystal structures represented a milestone in structural biology and tRNAs were for a long period the sole source of information on RNA folding, architecture, and post-transcriptional modifications. Crystallographic data on tRNAs in complex with aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases (aaRSs) also provided the first insight into protein:RNA interactions. Beyond the translation process and the history of structural investigations on tRNA, this review also illustrates the renewal of tRNA biology with the discovery of a growing number of tRNA partners in the cell, the involvement of tRNAs in a variety of regulatory and metabolic pathways, and emerging applications in biotechnology and synthetic biology.
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43
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Schmidt MJ, Fedoseev A, Bücker D, Borbas J, Peter C, Drescher M, Summerer D. EPR Distance Measurements in Native Proteins with Genetically Encoded Spin Labels. ACS Chem Biol 2015; 10:2764-71. [PMID: 26421438 DOI: 10.1021/acschembio.5b00512] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
The genetic encoding of nitroxide amino acids in combination with electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) distance measurements enables precise structural studies of native proteins, i.e. without the need for mutations to create unique reactive sites for chemical labeling and thus with minimal structural perturbation. We here report on in vitro DEER measurements in native E. coli thioredoxin (TRX) that establish the nitroxide amino acid SLK-1 as a spectroscopic probe that reports distances and conformational flexibilities in the enzyme with nonmutated catalytic centers that are not accessible by the use of the traditional methanethiosulfonate spin label (MTSSL). We generated a rotamer library for SLK-1 that in combination with molecular dynamics (MD) simulation enables predictions of distance distributions between two SLK-1 labels incorporated into a target protein. Toward a routine use of SLK-1 for EPR distance measurements in proteins and the advancement of the approach to intracellular environments, we study the stability of SLK-1 in E. coli cultures and lysates and establish guidelines for protein expression and purification that offer maximal nitroxide stability. These advancements and insights provide new perspectives for facile structural studies of native, endogenous proteins by EPR distance measurements.
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Affiliation(s)
- Moritz J. Schmidt
- Department of Chemistry,
Zukunftskolleg and Konstanz Research School Chemical Biology, University of Konstanz, Konstanz, Germany
| | - Artem Fedoseev
- Department of Chemistry,
Zukunftskolleg and Konstanz Research School Chemical Biology, University of Konstanz, Konstanz, Germany
| | - Dennis Bücker
- Department of Chemistry,
Zukunftskolleg and Konstanz Research School Chemical Biology, University of Konstanz, Konstanz, Germany
| | - Julia Borbas
- Department of Chemistry,
Zukunftskolleg and Konstanz Research School Chemical Biology, University of Konstanz, Konstanz, Germany
| | - Christine Peter
- Department of Chemistry,
Zukunftskolleg and Konstanz Research School Chemical Biology, University of Konstanz, Konstanz, Germany
| | - Malte Drescher
- Department of Chemistry,
Zukunftskolleg and Konstanz Research School Chemical Biology, University of Konstanz, Konstanz, Germany
| | - Daniel Summerer
- Department of Chemistry,
Zukunftskolleg and Konstanz Research School Chemical Biology, University of Konstanz, Konstanz, Germany
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44
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Ling J, O'Donoghue P, Söll D. Genetic code flexibility in microorganisms: novel mechanisms and impact on physiology. Nat Rev Microbiol 2015; 13:707-721. [PMID: 26411296 DOI: 10.1038/nrmicro3568] [Citation(s) in RCA: 89] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
The genetic code, initially thought to be universal and immutable, is now known to contain many variations, including biased codon usage, codon reassignment, ambiguous decoding and recoding. As a result of recent advances in the areas of genome sequencing, biochemistry, bioinformatics and structural biology, our understanding of genetic code flexibility has advanced substantially in the past decade. In this Review, we highlight the prevalence, evolution and mechanistic basis of genetic code variations in microorganisms, and we discuss how this flexibility of the genetic code affects microbial physiology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiqiang Ling
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston, Texas 77030, USA
| | - Patrick O'Donoghue
- Department of Biochemistry, The University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario N6A 5C1, Canada.,Department of Chemistry, The University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario N6A 5C1, Canada
| | - Dieter Söll
- Department of Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut 06520-8114, USA.,Department of Chemistry, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut 06520-8114, USA
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45
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VanBrunt MP, Shanebeck K, Caldwell Z, Johnson J, Thompson P, Martin T, Dong H, Li G, Xu H, D’Hooge F, Masterson L, Bariola P, Tiberghien A, Ezeadi E, Williams DG, Hartley JA, Howard PW, Grabstein KH, Bowen MA, Marelli M. Genetically Encoded Azide Containing Amino Acid in Mammalian Cells Enables Site-Specific Antibody–Drug Conjugates Using Click Cycloaddition Chemistry. Bioconjug Chem 2015; 26:2249-60. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.bioconjchem.5b00359] [Citation(s) in RCA: 84] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Michael P. VanBrunt
- Allozyne, Inc., 1600 Fairview Avenue
East, Seattle, Washington 98102, United States
| | - Kurt Shanebeck
- Allozyne, Inc., 1600 Fairview Avenue
East, Seattle, Washington 98102, United States
| | - Zachary Caldwell
- Allozyne, Inc., 1600 Fairview Avenue
East, Seattle, Washington 98102, United States
| | - Jeffrey Johnson
- Allozyne, Inc., 1600 Fairview Avenue
East, Seattle, Washington 98102, United States
| | - Pamela Thompson
- MedImmune, LLC, One MedImmune Way, Gaithersburg, Maryland 20878, United States
| | - Thomas Martin
- MedImmune, LLC, One MedImmune Way, Gaithersburg, Maryland 20878, United States
| | - Huifang Dong
- MedImmune, LLC, One MedImmune Way, Gaithersburg, Maryland 20878, United States
| | - Gary Li
- Allozyne, Inc., 1600 Fairview Avenue
East, Seattle, Washington 98102, United States
| | - Hengyu Xu
- Allozyne, Inc., 1600 Fairview Avenue
East, Seattle, Washington 98102, United States
| | - Francois D’Hooge
- Spirogen MedImmune, The QMB Innovation Centre, 42 New Road, London E1
2AX, United Kingdom
| | - Luke Masterson
- Spirogen MedImmune, The QMB Innovation Centre, 42 New Road, London E1
2AX, United Kingdom
| | - Pauline Bariola
- Allozyne, Inc., 1600 Fairview Avenue
East, Seattle, Washington 98102, United States
| | - Arnaud Tiberghien
- Spirogen MedImmune, The QMB Innovation Centre, 42 New Road, London E1
2AX, United Kingdom
| | - Ebele Ezeadi
- Spirogen MedImmune, The QMB Innovation Centre, 42 New Road, London E1
2AX, United Kingdom
| | - David G. Williams
- Spirogen MedImmune, The QMB Innovation Centre, 42 New Road, London E1
2AX, United Kingdom
| | - John A. Hartley
- Spirogen MedImmune, The QMB Innovation Centre, 42 New Road, London E1
2AX, United Kingdom
- UCL Cancer Institute, 72
Huntley Street, London WC1E 6BT, United Kingdom
| | - Philip W. Howard
- Spirogen MedImmune, The QMB Innovation Centre, 42 New Road, London E1
2AX, United Kingdom
| | - Kenneth H. Grabstein
- Allozyne, Inc., 1600 Fairview Avenue
East, Seattle, Washington 98102, United States
| | - Michael A. Bowen
- MedImmune, LLC, One MedImmune Way, Gaithersburg, Maryland 20878, United States
| | - Marcello Marelli
- Allozyne, Inc., 1600 Fairview Avenue
East, Seattle, Washington 98102, United States
- MedImmune, LLC, One MedImmune Way, Gaithersburg, Maryland 20878, United States
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46
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Fan C, Xiong H, Reynolds NM, Söll D. Rationally evolving tRNAPyl for efficient incorporation of noncanonical amino acids. Nucleic Acids Res 2015; 43:e156. [PMID: 26250114 PMCID: PMC4678846 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkv800] [Citation(s) in RCA: 71] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2015] [Accepted: 07/27/2015] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Genetic encoding of noncanonical amino acids (ncAAs) into proteins is a powerful approach to study protein functions. Pyrrolysyl-tRNA synthetase (PylRS), a polyspecific aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase in wide use, has facilitated incorporation of a large number of different ncAAs into proteins to date. To make this process more efficient, we rationally evolved tRNAPyl to create tRNAPyl-opt with six nucleotide changes. This improved tRNA was tested as substrate for wild-type PylRS as well as three characterized PylRS variants (Nϵ-acetyllysyl-tRNA synthetase [AcKRS], 3-iodo-phenylalanyl-tRNA synthetase [IFRS], a broad specific PylRS variant [PylRS-AA]) to incorporate ncAAs at UAG codons in super-folder green fluorescence protein (sfGFP). tRNAPyl-opt facilitated a 5-fold increase in AcK incorporation into two positions of sfGFP simultaneously. In addition, AcK incorporation into two target proteins (Escherichia coli malate dehydrogenase and human histone H3) caused homogenous acetylation at multiple lysine residues in high yield. Using tRNAPyl-opt with PylRS and various PylRS variants facilitated efficient incorporation of six other ncAAs into sfGFP. Kinetic analyses revealed that the mutations in tRNAPyl-opt had no significant effect on the catalytic efficiency and substrate binding of PylRS enzymes. Thus tRNAPyl-opt should be an excellent replacement of wild-type tRNAPyl for future ncAA incorporation by PylRS enzymes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chenguang Fan
- Department of Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06520-8144, USA
| | - Hai Xiong
- Department of Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06520-8144, USA
| | - Noah M Reynolds
- Department of Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06520-8144, USA
| | - Dieter Söll
- Department of Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06520-8144, USA Department of Chemistry, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06520-8144, USA
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47
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Hoffmann JE, Plass T, Nikić I, Aramburu IV, Koehler C, Gillandt H, Lemke EA, Schultz C. Highly Stabletrans-Cyclooctene Amino Acids for Live-Cell Labeling. Chemistry 2015; 21:12266-70. [DOI: 10.1002/chem.201501647] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2015] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
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48
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Quast RB, Mrusek D, Hoffmeister C, Sonnabend A, Kubick S. Cotranslational incorporation of non-standard amino acids using cell-free protein synthesis. FEBS Lett 2015; 589:1703-12. [PMID: 25937125 DOI: 10.1016/j.febslet.2015.04.041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2015] [Revised: 04/17/2015] [Accepted: 04/21/2015] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Over the last years protein engineering using non-standard amino acids has gained increasing attention. As a result, improved methods are now available, enabling the efficient and directed cotranslational incorporation of various non-standard amino acids to equip proteins with desired characteristics. In this context, the utilization of cell-free protein synthesis is particularly useful due to the direct accessibility of the translational machinery and synthesized proteins without having to maintain a vital cellular host. We review prominent methods for the incorporation of non-standard amino acids into proteins using cell-free protein synthesis. Furthermore, a list of non-standard amino acids that have been successfully incorporated into proteins in cell-free systems together with selected applications is provided.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert B Quast
- Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology (IZI), Branch Bioanalytics and Bioprocesses (IZI-BB), Am Mühlenberg 13, 14476 Potsdam, Germany
| | - Devid Mrusek
- Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology (IZI), Branch Bioanalytics and Bioprocesses (IZI-BB), Am Mühlenberg 13, 14476 Potsdam, Germany
| | - Christian Hoffmeister
- Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology (IZI), Branch Bioanalytics and Bioprocesses (IZI-BB), Am Mühlenberg 13, 14476 Potsdam, Germany
| | - Andrei Sonnabend
- Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology (IZI), Branch Bioanalytics and Bioprocesses (IZI-BB), Am Mühlenberg 13, 14476 Potsdam, Germany
| | - Stefan Kubick
- Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology (IZI), Branch Bioanalytics and Bioprocesses (IZI-BB), Am Mühlenberg 13, 14476 Potsdam, Germany.
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49
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Terasaka N, Iwane Y, Geiermann AS, Goto Y, Suga H. Recent developments of engineered translational machineries for the incorporation of non-canonical amino acids into polypeptides. Int J Mol Sci 2015; 16:6513-31. [PMID: 25803109 PMCID: PMC4394545 DOI: 10.3390/ijms16036513] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2015] [Revised: 03/13/2015] [Accepted: 03/16/2015] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Genetic code expansion and reprogramming methodologies allow us to incorporate non-canonical amino acids (ncAAs) bearing various functional groups, such as fluorescent groups, bioorthogonal functional groups, and post-translational modifications, into a desired position or multiple positions in polypeptides both in vitro and in vivo. In order to efficiently incorporate a wide range of ncAAs, several methodologies have been developed, such as orthogonal aminoacyl-tRNA-synthetase (AARS)–tRNA pairs, aminoacylation ribozymes, frame-shift suppression of quadruplet codons, and engineered ribosomes. More recently, it has been reported that an engineered translation system specifically utilizes an artificially built genetic code and functions orthogonally to naturally occurring counterpart. In this review we summarize recent advances in the field of ribosomal polypeptide synthesis containing ncAAs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Naohiro Terasaka
- Department of Chemistry, Graduate School of Science, University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan.
| | - Yoshihiko Iwane
- Department of Chemistry, Graduate School of Science, University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan.
| | - Anna-Skrollan Geiermann
- Department of Chemistry, Graduate School of Science, University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan.
| | - Yuki Goto
- Department of Chemistry, Graduate School of Science, University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan.
| | - Hiroaki Suga
- Department of Chemistry, Graduate School of Science, University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan.
- Japan Science and Technology Agency, Core Research for Evolutional Science and Technology, University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan.
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50
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Schmidt MJ, Fedoseev A, Summerer D, Drescher M. Genetically Encoded Spin Labels for In Vitro and In-Cell EPR Studies of Native Proteins. Methods Enzymol 2015; 563:483-502. [PMID: 26478496 DOI: 10.1016/bs.mie.2015.05.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy in combination with site-directed spin labeling (SDSL) is a powerful approach to study the structure, dynamics, and interactions of proteins. The genetic encoding of the noncanonical amino acid spin-labeled lysine 1 (SLK-1) eliminates the need for any chemical labeling steps in SDSL-EPR studies and enables the investigation of native, endogenous proteins with minimal structural perturbation, and without the need to create unique reactive sites for chemical labeling. We report detailed experimental procedures for the efficient synthesis of SLK-1, the expression and purification of SLK-1-containing proteins under conditions that ensure maximal integrity of the nitroxide radical moiety, and procedures for intramolecular EPR distance measurements in proteins by double electron-electron resonance.
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Affiliation(s)
- M J Schmidt
- Department of Chemistry, Zukunftskolleg, and Konstanz Research School Chemical Biology, University of Konstanz, Konstanz, Germany
| | - A Fedoseev
- Department of Chemistry, Zukunftskolleg, and Konstanz Research School Chemical Biology, University of Konstanz, Konstanz, Germany
| | - D Summerer
- Department of Chemistry, Zukunftskolleg, and Konstanz Research School Chemical Biology, University of Konstanz, Konstanz, Germany
| | - M Drescher
- Department of Chemistry, Zukunftskolleg, and Konstanz Research School Chemical Biology, University of Konstanz, Konstanz, Germany.
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