1
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Dunkelmann DL, Chin JW. Engineering Pyrrolysine Systems for Genetic Code Expansion and Reprogramming. Chem Rev 2024; 124:11008-11062. [PMID: 39235427 DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemrev.4c00243] [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: 09/06/2024]
Abstract
Over the past 16 years, genetic code expansion and reprogramming in living organisms has been transformed by advances that leverage the unique properties of pyrrolysyl-tRNA synthetase (PylRS)/tRNAPyl pairs. Here we summarize the discovery of the pyrrolysine system and describe the unique properties of PylRS/tRNAPyl pairs that provide a foundation for their transformational role in genetic code expansion and reprogramming. We describe the development of genetic code expansion, from E. coli to all domains of life, using PylRS/tRNAPyl pairs, and the development of systems that biosynthesize and incorporate ncAAs using pyl systems. We review applications that have been uniquely enabled by the development of PylRS/tRNAPyl pairs for incorporating new noncanonical amino acids (ncAAs), and strategies for engineering PylRS/tRNAPyl pairs to add noncanonical monomers, beyond α-L-amino acids, to the genetic code of living organisms. We review rapid progress in the discovery and scalable generation of mutually orthogonal PylRS/tRNAPyl pairs that can be directed to incorporate diverse ncAAs in response to diverse codons, and we review strategies for incorporating multiple distinct ncAAs into proteins using mutually orthogonal PylRS/tRNAPyl pairs. Finally, we review recent advances in the encoded cellular synthesis of noncanonical polymers and macrocycles and discuss future developments for PylRS/tRNAPyl pairs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel L Dunkelmann
- Medical Research Council Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Francis Crick Avenue, Cambridge CB2 0QH, England, United Kingdom
- Max Planck Institute of Molecular Plant Physiology, Am Mühlenberg 1, 14476 Potsdam-Golm, Germany
| | - Jason W Chin
- Medical Research Council Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Francis Crick Avenue, Cambridge CB2 0QH, England, United Kingdom
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2
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Niu W, Guo J. Cellular Site-Specific Incorporation of Noncanonical Amino Acids in Synthetic Biology. Chem Rev 2024; 124:10577-10617. [PMID: 39207844 DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemrev.3c00938] [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] [Indexed: 09/04/2024]
Abstract
Over the past two decades, genetic code expansion (GCE)-enabled methods for incorporating noncanonical amino acids (ncAAs) into proteins have significantly advanced the field of synthetic biology while also reaping substantial benefits from it. On one hand, they provide synthetic biologists with a powerful toolkit to enhance and diversify biological designs beyond natural constraints. Conversely, synthetic biology has not only propelled the development of ncAA incorporation through sophisticated tools and innovative strategies but also broadened its potential applications across various fields. This Review delves into the methodological advancements and primary applications of site-specific cellular incorporation of ncAAs in synthetic biology. The topics encompass expanding the genetic code through noncanonical codon addition, creating semiautonomous and autonomous organisms, designing regulatory elements, and manipulating and extending peptide natural product biosynthetic pathways. The Review concludes by examining the ongoing challenges and future prospects of GCE-enabled ncAA incorporation in synthetic biology and highlighting opportunities for further advancements in this rapidly evolving field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Niu
- Department of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, Nebraska 68588, United States
- The Nebraska Center for Integrated Biomolecular Communication (NCIBC), University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, Nebraska 68588, United States
| | - Jiantao Guo
- Department of Chemistry, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, Nebraska 68588, United States
- The Nebraska Center for Integrated Biomolecular Communication (NCIBC), University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, Nebraska 68588, United States
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3
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Koch NG, Budisa N. Evolution of Pyrrolysyl-tRNA Synthetase: From Methanogenesis to Genetic Code Expansion. Chem Rev 2024; 124:9580-9608. [PMID: 38953775 PMCID: PMC11363022 DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemrev.4c00031] [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: 01/14/2024] [Revised: 05/22/2024] [Accepted: 05/28/2024] [Indexed: 07/04/2024]
Abstract
Over 20 years ago, the pyrrolysine encoding translation system was discovered in specific archaea. Our Review provides an overview of how the once obscure pyrrolysyl-tRNA synthetase (PylRS) tRNA pair, originally responsible for accurately translating enzymes crucial in methanogenic metabolic pathways, laid the foundation for the burgeoning field of genetic code expansion. Our primary focus is the discussion of how to successfully engineer the PylRS to recognize new substrates and exhibit higher in vivo activity. We have compiled a comprehensive list of ncAAs incorporable with the PylRS system. Additionally, we also summarize recent successful applications of the PylRS system in creating innovative therapeutic solutions, such as new antibody-drug conjugates, advancements in vaccine modalities, and the potential production of new antimicrobials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nikolaj G. Koch
- Department
of Chemistry, Institute of Physical Chemistry, University of Basel, 4058 Basel, Switzerland
- Department
of Biosystems Science and Engineering, ETH
Zurich, 4058 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Nediljko Budisa
- Biocatalysis
Group, Institute of Chemistry, Technische
Universität Berlin, 10623 Berlin, Germany
- Chemical
Synthetic Biology Chair, Department of Chemistry, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg MB R3T 2N2, Canada
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4
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Ma B, Britt RD, Tao L. Radical SAM Enzyme PylB Generates a Lysyl Radical Intermediate in the Biosynthesis of Pyrrolysine by Using SAM as a Cofactor. J Am Chem Soc 2024; 146:6544-6556. [PMID: 38426740 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.3c11266] [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] [Indexed: 03/02/2024]
Abstract
Pyrrolysine, the 22nd amino acid encoded by the natural genetic code, is essential for methanogenic archaea to catabolize methylamines into methane. The structure of pyrrolysine consists of a methylated pyrroline carboxylate that is linked to the ε-amino group of the l-lysine via an amide bond. The biosynthesis of pyrrolysine requires three enzymes: PylB, PylC, and PylD. PylB is a radical S-adenosyl-l-methionine (SAM) enzyme and catalyzes the first biosynthetic step, the isomerization of l-lysine into methylornithine. PylC catalyzes an ATP-dependent ligation of methylornithine and a second l-lysine to form l-lysine-Nε-methylornithine. The last biosynthetic step is catalyzed by PylD via oxidation of the PylC product to form pyrrolysine. While enzymatic reactions of PylC and PylD have been well characterized by X-ray crystallography and in vitro studies, mechanistic understanding of PylB is still relatively limited. Here, we report the first in vitro activity of PylB to form methylornithine via the isomerization of l-lysine. We also identify a lysyl C4 radical intermediate that is trapped, with its electronic structure and geometric structure well characterized by EPR and ENDOR spectroscopy. In addition, we demonstrate that SAM functions as a catalytic cofactor in PylB catalysis rather than canonically as a cosubstrate. This work provides detailed mechanistic evidence for elucidating the carbon backbone rearrangement reaction catalyzed by PylB during the biosynthesis of pyrrolysine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Baixu Ma
- Department of Chemistry, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - R David Britt
- Department of Chemistry, University of California, Davis, Davis, California 95616, United States
| | - Lizhi Tao
- Department of Chemistry, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen 518055, China
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5
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Soualmia F, Cherrier MV, Chauviré T, Mauger M, Tatham P, Guillot A, Guinchard X, Martin L, Amara P, Mouesca JM, Daghmoum M, Benjdia A, Gambarelli S, Berteau O, Nicolet Y. Radical S-Adenosyl-l-Methionine Enzyme PylB: A C-Centered Radical to Convert l-Lysine into (3 R)-3-Methyl-d-Ornithine. J Am Chem Soc 2024; 146:6493-6505. [PMID: 38426440 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.3c03747] [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: 03/02/2024]
Abstract
PylB is a radical S-adenosyl-l-methionine (SAM) enzyme predicted to convert l-lysine into (3R)-3-methyl-d-ornithine, a precursor in the biosynthesis of the 22nd proteogenic amino acid pyrrolysine. This protein highly resembles that of the radical SAM tyrosine and tryptophan lyases, which activate their substrate by abstracting a H atom from the amino-nitrogen position. Here, combining in vitro assays, analytical methods, electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy, and theoretical methods, we demonstrated that instead, PylB activates its substrate by abstracting a H atom from the Cγ position of l-lysine to afford the radical-based β-scission. Strikingly, we also showed that PylB catalyzes the reverse reaction, converting (3R)-3-methyl-d-ornithine into l-lysine and using catalytic amounts of the 5'-deoxyadenosyl radical. Finally, we identified significant in vitro production of 5'-thioadenosine, an unexpected shunt product that we propose to result from the quenching of the 5'-deoxyadenosyl radical species by the nearby [Fe4S4] cluster.
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Affiliation(s)
- Feryel Soualmia
- Université Paris-Saclay, Micalis Institute, ChemSyBio, Université Paris-Saclay, INRAE, AgroParisTech, 78350 Jouy-en-Josas, France
| | - Mickael V Cherrier
- Univ. Grenoble Alpes, CEA, CNRS, IBS, Metalloproteins Unit, F-38000 Grenoble, France
| | - Timothée Chauviré
- Univ. Grenoble Alpes, CEA, CNRS, IRIG-DIESE-SyMMES-CAMPE, F-38000 Grenoble, France
| | - Mickaël Mauger
- Université Paris-Saclay, Micalis Institute, ChemSyBio, Université Paris-Saclay, INRAE, AgroParisTech, 78350 Jouy-en-Josas, France
| | - Philip Tatham
- Université Paris-Saclay, Micalis Institute, ChemSyBio, Université Paris-Saclay, INRAE, AgroParisTech, 78350 Jouy-en-Josas, France
| | - Alain Guillot
- Université Paris-Saclay, Micalis Institute, ChemSyBio, Université Paris-Saclay, INRAE, AgroParisTech, 78350 Jouy-en-Josas, France
| | - Xavier Guinchard
- Université Paris-Saclay, CNRS, Institut de Chimie des Substances Naturelles, UPR 2301, 91198 Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | - Lydie Martin
- Univ. Grenoble Alpes, CEA, CNRS, IBS, Metalloproteins Unit, F-38000 Grenoble, France
| | - Patricia Amara
- Univ. Grenoble Alpes, CEA, CNRS, IBS, Metalloproteins Unit, F-38000 Grenoble, France
| | - Jean-Marie Mouesca
- Univ. Grenoble Alpes, CEA, CNRS, IRIG-DIESE-SyMMES-CAMPE, F-38000 Grenoble, France
| | - Meriem Daghmoum
- Université Paris-Saclay, CNRS, Institut de Chimie des Substances Naturelles, UPR 2301, 91198 Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | - Alhosna Benjdia
- Université Paris-Saclay, Micalis Institute, ChemSyBio, Université Paris-Saclay, INRAE, AgroParisTech, 78350 Jouy-en-Josas, France
| | - Serge Gambarelli
- Univ. Grenoble Alpes, CEA, CNRS, IRIG-DIESE-SyMMES-CAMPE, F-38000 Grenoble, France
| | - Olivier Berteau
- Université Paris-Saclay, Micalis Institute, ChemSyBio, Université Paris-Saclay, INRAE, AgroParisTech, 78350 Jouy-en-Josas, France
| | - Yvain Nicolet
- Univ. Grenoble Alpes, CEA, CNRS, IBS, Metalloproteins Unit, F-38000 Grenoble, France
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6
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Douglas J, Bouckaert R, Carter CW, Wills P. Enzymic recognition of amino acids drove the evolution of primordial genetic codes. Nucleic Acids Res 2024; 52:558-571. [PMID: 38048305 PMCID: PMC10810186 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkad1160] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2023] [Revised: 10/28/2023] [Accepted: 11/20/2023] [Indexed: 12/06/2023] Open
Abstract
How genetic information gained its exquisite control over chemical processes needed to build living cells remains an enigma. Today, the aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases (AARS) execute the genetic codes in all living systems. But how did the AARS that emerged over three billion years ago as low-specificity, protozymic forms then spawn the full range of highly-specific enzymes that distinguish between 22 diverse amino acids? A phylogenetic reconstruction of extant AARS genes, enhanced by analysing modular acquisitions, reveals six AARS with distinct bacterial, archaeal, eukaryotic, or organellar clades, resulting in a total of 36 families of AARS catalytic domains. Small structural modules that differentiate one AARS family from another played pivotal roles in discriminating between amino acid side chains, thereby expanding the genetic code and refining its precision. The resulting model shows a tendency for less elaborate enzymes, with simpler catalytic domains, to activate amino acids that were not synthesised until later in the evolution of the code. The most probable evolutionary route for an emergent amino acid type to establish a place in the code was by recruiting older, less specific AARS, rather than adapting contemporary lineages. This process, retrofunctionalisation, differs from previously described mechanisms through which amino acids would enter the code.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jordan Douglas
- Department of Physics, The University of Auckland, New Zealand
- Centre for Computational Evolution, The University of Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Remco Bouckaert
- Centre for Computational Evolution, The University of Auckland, New Zealand
- School of Computer Science, The University of Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Charles W Carter
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, USA
| | - Peter R Wills
- Department of Physics, The University of Auckland, New Zealand
- Centre for Computational Evolution, The University of Auckland, New Zealand
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7
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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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8
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Chen L, Xin X, Zhang Y, Li S, Zhao X, Li S, Xu Z. Advances in Biosynthesis of Non-Canonical Amino Acids (ncAAs) and the Methods of ncAAs Incorporation into Proteins. Molecules 2023; 28:6745. [PMID: 37764520 PMCID: PMC10534643 DOI: 10.3390/molecules28186745] [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: 09/03/2023] [Revised: 09/18/2023] [Accepted: 09/18/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
The functional pool of canonical amino acids (cAAs) has been enriched through the emergence of non-canonical amino acids (ncAAs). NcAAs play a crucial role in the production of various pharmaceuticals. The biosynthesis of ncAAs has emerged as an alternative to traditional chemical synthesis due to its environmental friendliness and high efficiency. The breakthrough genetic code expansion (GCE) technique developed in recent years has allowed the incorporation of ncAAs into target proteins, giving them special functions and biological activities. The biosynthesis of ncAAs and their incorporation into target proteins within a single microbe has become an enticing application of such molecules. Based on that, in this study, we first review the biosynthesis methods for ncAAs and analyze the difficulties related to biosynthesis. We then summarize the GCE methods and analyze their advantages and disadvantages. Further, we review the application progress of ncAAs and anticipate the challenges and future development directions of ncAAs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liang Chen
- College of Bioengineering, Beijing Polytechnic, Beijing 100176, China; (X.X.); (Y.Z.); (S.L.); (X.Z.); (S.L.); (Z.X.)
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9
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Abstract
Methanogenic archaea are the only organisms that produce CH4 as part of their energy-generating metabolism. They are ubiquitous in oxidant-depleted, anoxic environments such as aquatic sediments, anaerobic digesters, inundated agricultural fields, the rumen of cattle, and the hindgut of termites, where they catalyze the terminal reactions in the degradation of organic matter. Methanogenesis is the only metabolism that is restricted to members of the domain Archaea. Here, we discuss the importance of model organisms in the history of methanogen research, including their role in the discovery of the archaea and in the biochemical and genetic characterization of methanogenesis. We also discuss outstanding questions in the field and newly emerging model systems that will expand our understanding of this uniquely archaeal metabolism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kyle C. Costa
- Department of Plant and Microbial Biology, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, Minnesota, USA
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10
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Tai J, Wang L, Chan WS, Cheng J, Chan YH, Lee MM, Chan MK. Pyrrolysine-Inspired in Cellulo Synthesis of an Unnatural Amino Acid for Facile Macrocyclization of Proteins. J Am Chem Soc 2023; 145:10249-10258. [PMID: 37125745 PMCID: PMC10176472 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.3c01291] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/02/2023]
Abstract
Macrocyclization has been touted as an effective strategy to enhance the in vivo stability and efficacy of protein therapeutics. Herein, we describe a scalable and robust system based on the endogenous biosynthesis of a noncanonical amino acid coupled to the pyrrolysine translational machinery for the generation of lasso-grafted proteins. The in cellulo biosynthesis of the noncanonical amino acid d-Cys-ε-Lys was achieved by hijacking the pyrrolysine biosynthesis pathway, and then, its genetical incorporation into proteins was performed using an optimized PylRS/tRNAPyl pair and cell line. This system was then applied to the structurally inspired cyclization of a 23-mer therapeutic P16 peptide engrafted on a fusion protein, resulting in near-complete cyclization of the target cyclic subunit in under 3 h. The resulting cyclic P16 peptide fusion protein possessed much higher CDK4 binding affinity than its linear counterpart. Furthermore, a bifunctional bicyclic protein harboring a cyclic cancer cell targeting RGD motif on the one end and the cyclic P16 peptide on the other is produced and shown to be a potent cell cycle arrestor with improved serum stability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jingxuan Tai
- School of Life Sciences and Center of Novel Biomaterials, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR 999077, China
| | - Lin Wang
- School of Life Sciences and Center of Novel Biomaterials, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR 999077, China
| | - Wai Shan Chan
- School of Life Sciences and Center of Novel Biomaterials, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR 999077, China
| | - Jiahui Cheng
- School of Life Sciences and Center of Novel Biomaterials, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR 999077, China
| | - Yuk Hei Chan
- School of Life Sciences and Center of Novel Biomaterials, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR 999077, China
| | - Marianne M Lee
- School of Life Sciences and Center of Novel Biomaterials, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR 999077, China
| | - Michael K Chan
- School of Life Sciences and Center of Novel Biomaterials, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR 999077, China
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11
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Gong X, Zhang H, Shen Y, Fu X. 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] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [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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Affiliation(s)
- Xuemei Gong
- College of Life Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- BGI Research-Shenzhen, BGI, Shenzhen, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Genome Read and Write, Shenzhen, China
| | - Haolin Zhang
- BGI Research-Shenzhen, BGI, Shenzhen, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Genome Read and Write, Shenzhen, China
| | - Yue Shen
- BGI Research-Shenzhen, BGI, Shenzhen, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Genome Read and Write, Shenzhen, China
- BGI Research-Changzhou, BGI, Changzhou, China
| | - Xian Fu
- BGI Research-Shenzhen, BGI, Shenzhen, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Genome Read and Write, Shenzhen, China
- BGI Research-Changzhou, BGI, Changzhou, China
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12
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Li J, Kang PT, Jiang R, Lee JY, Soares JA, Krzycki JA, Chan MK. Insights into pyrrolysine function from structures of a trimethylamine methyltransferase and its corrinoid protein complex. Commun Biol 2023; 6:54. [PMID: 36646841 PMCID: PMC9842639 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-022-04397-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2022] [Accepted: 12/21/2022] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
The 22nd genetically encoded amino acid, pyrrolysine, plays a unique role in the key step in the growth of methanogens on mono-, di-, and tri-methylamines by activating the methyl group of these substrates for transfer to a corrinoid cofactor. Previous crystal structures of the Methanosarcina barkeri monomethylamine methyltransferase elucidated the structure of pyrrolysine and provide insight into its role in monomethylamine activation. Herein, we report the second structure of a pyrrolysine-containing protein, the M. barkeri trimethylamine methyltransferase MttB, and its structure bound to sulfite, a substrate analog of trimethylamine. We also report the structure of MttB in complex with its cognate corrinoid protein MttC, which specifically receives the methyl group from the pyrrolysine-activated trimethylamine substrate during methanogenesis. Together these structures provide key insights into the role of pyrrolysine in methyl group transfer from trimethylamine to the corrinoid cofactor in MttC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiaxin Li
- grid.10784.3a0000 0004 1937 0482School of Life Sciences, and Center of Novel Biomaterials, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong, China
| | - Patrick T. Kang
- grid.261103.70000 0004 0459 7529Department of Integrative Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, Northeast Ohio Medical University, Rootstown, OH 44272 USA ,grid.261331.40000 0001 2285 7943Ohio State University Biochemistry Program, Columbus, OH 43210 USA
| | - Ruisheng Jiang
- grid.261331.40000 0001 2285 7943Department of Microbiology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210 USA
| | - Jodie Y. Lee
- grid.261331.40000 0001 2285 7943Department of Microbiology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210 USA ,grid.422834.b0000 0004 0387 4571TechLab, Inc., Blacksburg, VA 24060 USA
| | - Jitesh A. Soares
- grid.261331.40000 0001 2285 7943Department of Microbiology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210 USA ,grid.286879.a0000 0001 1090 0879Division of Scientific Advancement, American Chemical Society, Washington, DC 20036 USA
| | - Joseph A. Krzycki
- grid.261331.40000 0001 2285 7943Ohio State University Biochemistry Program, Columbus, OH 43210 USA ,grid.261331.40000 0001 2285 7943Department of Microbiology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210 USA
| | - Michael K. Chan
- grid.10784.3a0000 0004 1937 0482School of Life Sciences, and Center of Novel Biomaterials, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong, China ,grid.261331.40000 0001 2285 7943Ohio State University Biochemistry Program, Columbus, OH 43210 USA
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13
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Archaea as a Model System for Molecular Biology and Biotechnology. Biomolecules 2023; 13:biom13010114. [PMID: 36671499 PMCID: PMC9855744 DOI: 10.3390/biom13010114] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2022] [Revised: 12/29/2022] [Accepted: 01/04/2023] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Archaea represents the third domain of life, displaying a closer relationship with eukaryotes than bacteria. These microorganisms are valuable model systems for molecular biology and biotechnology. In fact, nowadays, methanogens, halophiles, thermophilic euryarchaeota, and crenarchaeota are the four groups of archaea for which genetic systems have been well established, making them suitable as model systems and allowing for the increasing study of archaeal genes' functions. Furthermore, thermophiles are used to explore several aspects of archaeal biology, such as stress responses, DNA replication and repair, transcription, translation and its regulation mechanisms, CRISPR systems, and carbon and energy metabolism. Extremophilic archaea also represent a valuable source of new biomolecules for biological and biotechnological applications, and there is growing interest in the development of engineered strains. In this review, we report on some of the most important aspects of the use of archaea as a model system for genetic evolution, the development of genetic tools, and their application for the elucidation of the basal molecular mechanisms in this domain of life. Furthermore, an overview on the discovery of new enzymes of biotechnological interest from archaea thriving in extreme environments is reported.
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14
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Wang Y, Cai W, Han B, Liu T. Protein Expression with Biosynthesized Noncanonical Amino Acids. Methods Mol Biol 2023; 2676:87-100. [PMID: 37277626 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-3251-2_6] [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
Natural proteins are normally made by 20 canonical amino acids. Genetic code expansion (GCE) enables incorporation of diverse chemically synthesized noncanonical amino acids (ncAAs) by orthogonal aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase (aaRS)/tRNA pairs using nonsense codons, which could significantly expand new functionalities of proteins in both scientific and biomedical applications. Here, by hijacking the cysteine biosynthetic enzymes, we describe a method combining amino acid biosynthesis and GCE to introduce around 50 structurally novel ncAAs into proteins by supplementation of commercially available aromatic thiol precursors, thus eliminating the need to chemically synthesize these ncAAs. A screening method is also provided for improving the incorporation efficiency of a particular ncAA. Furthermore, we demonstrate bioorthogonal groups, such as azide and ketone, that are compatible with our system and can be easily introduced into protein for subsequent site-specific labeling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yong Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, Chemical Biology Center, Department of Molecular and Cellular Pharmacology, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Wenkang Cai
- State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, Chemical Biology Center, Department of Molecular and Cellular Pharmacology, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Boyang Han
- State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, Chemical Biology Center, Department of Molecular and Cellular Pharmacology, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Tao Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, Chemical Biology Center, Department of Molecular and Cellular Pharmacology, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China.
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15
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Meng K, Chung CZ, Söll D, Krahn N. Unconventional genetic code systems in archaea. Front Microbiol 2022; 13:1007832. [PMID: 36160229 PMCID: PMC9499178 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.1007832] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2022] [Accepted: 08/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Archaea constitute the third domain of life, distinct from bacteria and eukaryotes given their ability to tolerate extreme environments. To survive these harsh conditions, certain archaeal lineages possess unique genetic code systems to encode either selenocysteine or pyrrolysine, rare amino acids not found in all organisms. Furthermore, archaea utilize alternate tRNA-dependent pathways to biosynthesize and incorporate members of the 20 canonical amino acids. Recent discoveries of new archaeal species have revealed the co-occurrence of these genetic code systems within a single lineage. This review discusses the diverse genetic code systems of archaea, while detailing the associated biochemical elements and molecular mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kexin Meng
- Department of Molecular Biophysics & Biochemistry, Yale University, New Haven, CT, United States
| | - Christina Z. Chung
- Department of Molecular Biophysics & Biochemistry, Yale University, New Haven, CT, United States
| | - Dieter Söll
- Department of Molecular Biophysics & Biochemistry, Yale University, New Haven, CT, United States
- Department of Chemistry, Yale University, New Haven, CT, United States
| | - Natalie Krahn
- Department of Molecular Biophysics & Biochemistry, Yale University, New Haven, CT, United States
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16
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Boswinkle K, McKinney J, Allen KD. Highlighting the Unique Roles of Radical S-Adenosylmethionine Enzymes in Methanogenic Archaea. J Bacteriol 2022; 204:e0019722. [PMID: 35880875 PMCID: PMC9380564 DOI: 10.1128/jb.00197-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Radical S-adenosylmethionine (SAM) enzymes catalyze an impressive variety of difficult biochemical reactions in various pathways across all domains of life. These metalloenzymes employ a reduced [4Fe-4S] cluster and SAM to generate a highly reactive 5'-deoxyadenosyl radical that is capable of initiating catalysis on otherwise unreactive substrates. Interestingly, the genomes of methanogenic archaea encode many unique radical SAM enzymes with underexplored or completely unknown functions. These organisms are responsible for the yearly production of nearly 1 billion tons of methane, a potent greenhouse gas as well as a valuable energy source. Thus, understanding the details of methanogenic metabolism and elucidating the functions of essential enzymes in these organisms can provide insights into strategies to decrease greenhouse gas emissions as well as inform advances in bioenergy production processes. This minireview provides an overview of the current state of the field regarding the functions of radical SAM enzymes in methanogens and discusses gaps in knowledge that should be addressed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kaleb Boswinkle
- Department of Biochemistry, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, Virginia, USA
| | - Justin McKinney
- Department of Biochemistry, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, Virginia, USA
| | - Kylie D. Allen
- Department of Biochemistry, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, Virginia, USA
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17
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Zomorrodi AR, Hemez C, Arranz-Gibert P, Wu T, Isaacs FJ, Segrè D. Computational design and engineering of an Escherichia coli strain producing the nonstandard amino acid para-aminophenylalanine. iScience 2022; 25:104562. [PMID: 35789833 PMCID: PMC9249619 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2022.104562] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2022] [Revised: 05/16/2022] [Accepted: 06/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Introducing heterologous pathways into host cells constitutes a promising strategy for synthesizing nonstandard amino acids (nsAAs) to enable the production of proteins with expanded chemistries. However, this strategy has proven challenging, as the expression of heterologous pathways can disrupt cellular homeostasis of the host cell. Here, we sought to optimize the heterologous production of the nsAA para-aminophenylalanine (pAF) in Escherichia coli. First, we incorporated a heterologous pAF biosynthesis pathway into a genome-scale model of E. coli metabolism and computationally identified metabolic interventions in the host’s native metabolism to improve pAF production. Next, we explored different approaches of imposing these flux interventions experimentally and found that the upregulation of flux in the chorismate biosynthesis pathway through the elimination of feedback inhibition mechanisms could significantly raise pAF titers (∼20-fold) while maintaining a reasonable pAF production-growth rate trade-off. Overall, this study provides a promising strategy for the biosynthesis of nsAAs in engineered cells. Sought to optimize para-aminophenylalanine (pAF) production and growth in E. coli Identified interventions in the host native metabolism using genome-scale models Constructed multiple mutant strains involving gene knockouts and/or overexpressions Flux modification in chorismate biosynthesis pathway significantly raised pAF titer
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Affiliation(s)
- Ali R. Zomorrodi
- Mucosal Immunology and Biology Research Center, Pediatrics Department, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Bioinformatics Graduate Program, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Colin Hemez
- Department of Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
- Systems Biology Institute, Yale University, West Haven, CT, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Pol Arranz-Gibert
- Department of Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
- Systems Biology Institute, Yale University, West Haven, CT, USA
| | - Terrence Wu
- Yale West Campus Analytical Core, 600 West Campus Drive, West Haven, USA
| | - Farren J. Isaacs
- Department of Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
- Systems Biology Institute, Yale University, West Haven, CT, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
- Corresponding author
| | - Daniel Segrè
- Bioinformatics Graduate Program, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Biology, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA
- Biological Design Center, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA
- Corresponding author
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18
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Buckel W, Beatrix B, Zelder O. Glutamate mutase and 2-methyleneglutarate mutase. Methods Enzymol 2022; 668:285-307. [PMID: 35589197 DOI: 10.1016/bs.mie.2021.12.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Wolfgang Buckel
- Department of Biology, Philipps University, Marburg, Germany.
| | - Birgitta Beatrix
- Gene Center, Department of Biochemistry, Ludwig Maximilian University, München, Germany
| | - Oskar Zelder
- Department of Biology, Philipps University, Marburg, Germany; Industrial Biotechnology I, BASF SE, Ludwigshafen am Rhein, Germany
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19
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Puig-Castellví F, Midoux C, Guenne A, Conteau D, Franchi O, Bureau C, Madigou C, Jouan-Rimbaud Bouveresse D, Kroff P, Mazéas L, Rutledge DN, Gaval G, Chapleur O. Metataxonomics, metagenomics and metabolomics analysis of the influence of temperature modification in full-scale anaerobic digesters. BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY 2022; 346:126612. [PMID: 34954354 DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2021.126612] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2021] [Revised: 12/17/2021] [Accepted: 12/18/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Full-scale anaerobic digesters' performance is regulated by modifying their operational conditions, but little is known about how these modifications affect their microbiome. In this work, we monitored two originally mesophilic (35 °C) full-scale anaerobic digesters during 476 days. One digester was submitted to sub-mesophilic (25 °C) conditions between days 123 and 373. We characterized the effect of temperature modification using a multi-omics (metataxonomics, metagenomics, and metabolomics) approach. The metataxonomics and metagenomics results revealed that the lower temperature allowed a substantial increase of the sub-dominant bacterial population, destabilizing the microbial community equilibrium and reducing the biogas production. After restoring the initial mesophilic temperature, the bacterial community manifested resilience in terms of microbial structure and functional activity. The metabolomic signature of the sub-mesophilic acclimation was characterized by a rise of amino acids and short peptides, suggesting a protein degradation activity not directed towards biogas production.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesc Puig-Castellví
- Université Paris-Saclay, INRAE, AgroParisTech, UMR SayFood, 75005 Paris, France; Université Paris-Saclay, INRAE, PRocédés biOtechnologiques au Service de l'Environnement, 92160 Antony, France
| | - Cédric Midoux
- Université Paris-Saclay, INRAE, PRocédés biOtechnologiques au Service de l'Environnement, 92160 Antony, France; Université Paris-Saclay, INRAE, MaIAGE, 78350, Jouy-en-Josas, France; Université Paris-Saclay, INRAE, BioinfOmics, MIGALE bioinformatics facility, 78350, Jouy-en-Josas, France
| | - Angéline Guenne
- Université Paris-Saclay, INRAE, PRocédés biOtechnologiques au Service de l'Environnement, 92160 Antony, France
| | | | - Oscar Franchi
- Université Paris-Saclay, INRAE, PRocédés biOtechnologiques au Service de l'Environnement, 92160 Antony, France; Universidad Adolfo Ibanez, Facultad de ingeniería y ciencias, 2520000 Viña del mar, Chile
| | - Chrystelle Bureau
- Université Paris-Saclay, INRAE, PRocédés biOtechnologiques au Service de l'Environnement, 92160 Antony, France
| | - Céline Madigou
- Université Paris-Saclay, INRAE, PRocédés biOtechnologiques au Service de l'Environnement, 92160 Antony, France
| | | | | | - Laurent Mazéas
- Université Paris-Saclay, INRAE, PRocédés biOtechnologiques au Service de l'Environnement, 92160 Antony, France
| | - Douglas N Rutledge
- Université Paris-Saclay, INRAE, AgroParisTech, UMR SayFood, 75005 Paris, France; National Wine and Grape Industry Centre, Charles Sturt University, 2650 Wagga Wagga, Australia
| | | | - Olivier Chapleur
- Université Paris-Saclay, INRAE, PRocédés biOtechnologiques au Service de l'Environnement, 92160 Antony, France.
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20
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Factors in Protobiomonomer Selection for the Origin of the Standard Genetic Code. Acta Biotheor 2021; 69:745-767. [PMID: 34283307 DOI: 10.1007/s10441-021-09420-4] [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: 08/14/2020] [Accepted: 07/01/2021] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
Natural selection of specific protobiomonomers during abiogenic development of the prototype genetic code is hindered by the diversity of structural, spatial, and rotational isomers that have identical elemental composition and molecular mass (M), but can vary significantly in their physicochemical characteristics, such as the melting temperature Tm, the Tm:M ratio, and the solubility in water, due to different positions of atoms in the molecule. These parameters differ between cis- and trans-isomers of dicarboxylic acids, spatial monosaccharide isomers, and structural isomers of α-, β-, and γ-amino acids. The stable planar heterocyclic molecules of the major nucleobases comprise four (C, H, N, O) or three (C, H, N) elements and contain a single -C=C bond and two nitrogen atoms in each heterocycle involved in C-N and C=N bonds. They exist as isomeric resonance hybrids of single and double bonds and as a mixture of tautomer forms due to the presence of -C=O and/or -NH2 side groups. They are thermostable, insoluble in water, and exhibit solid-state stability, which is of central importance for DNA molecules as carriers of genetic information. In M-Tm diagrams, proteinogenic amino acids and the corresponding codons are distributed fairly regularly relative to the distinct clusters of purine and pyrimidine bases, reflecting the correspondence between codons and amino acids that was established in different periods of genetic code development. The body of data on the evolution of the genetic code system indicates that the elemental composition and molecular structure of protobiomonomers, and their M, Tm, photostability, and aqueous solubility determined their selection in the emergence of the standard genetic code.
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21
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Zhang G, Ren X, Liang X, Wang Y, Feng D, Zhang Y, Xian M, Zou H. Improving the Microbial Production of Amino Acids: From Conventional Approaches to Recent Trends. BIOTECHNOL BIOPROC E 2021. [DOI: 10.1007/s12257-020-0390-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
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22
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Kivenson V, Paul BG, Valentine DL. An Ecological Basis for Dual Genetic Code Expansion in Marine Deltaproteobacteria. Front Microbiol 2021; 12:680620. [PMID: 34335502 PMCID: PMC8318568 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.680620] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2021] [Accepted: 05/20/2021] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Marine benthic environments may be shaped by anthropogenic and other localized events, leading to changes in microbial community composition evident decades after a disturbance. Marine sediments in particular harbor exceptional taxonomic diversity and can shed light on distinctive evolutionary strategies. Genetic code expansion is a strategy that increases the structural and functional diversity of proteins in cells, by repurposing stop codons to encode non-canonical amino acids: pyrrolysine (Pyl) and selenocysteine (Sec). Here, we report both a study of the microbiome at a deep sea industrial waste dumpsite and an unanticipated discovery of codon reassignment in its most abundant member, with potential ramifications for interpreting microbial interactions with ocean-dumped wastes. The genomes of abundant Deltaproteobacteria from the sediments of a deep-ocean chemical waste dump site have undergone genetic code expansion. Pyl and Sec in these organisms appear to augment trimethylamine (TMA) and one-carbon metabolism, representing an increased metabolic versatility. The inferred metabolism of these sulfate-reducing bacteria places them in competition with methylotrophic methanogens for TMA, a contention further supported by earlier isotope tracer studies and reanalysis of metatranscriptomic studies. A survey of genomic data further reveals a broad geographic distribution of a niche group of similarly specialized Deltaproteobacteria, including at sulfidic sites in the Atlantic Ocean, Gulf of Mexico, Guaymas Basin, and North Sea, as well as in terrestrial and estuarine environments. These findings reveal an important biogeochemical role for specialized Deltaproteobacteria at the interface of the carbon, nitrogen, selenium, and sulfur cycles, with their niche adaptation and ecological success potentially augmented by genetic code expansion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Veronika Kivenson
- Interdepartmental Graduate Program in Marine Science, University of California, Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA, United States
| | - Blair G. Paul
- Department of Earth Science and Marine Science Institute, University of California, Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA, United States
| | - David L. Valentine
- Department of Earth Science and Marine Science Institute, University of California, Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA, United States
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23
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Ho JML, Miller CA, Smith KA, Mattia JR, Bennett MR. Improved pyrrolysine biosynthesis through phage assisted non-continuous directed evolution of the complete pathway. Nat Commun 2021; 12:3914. [PMID: 34168131 PMCID: PMC8225853 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-24183-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2020] [Accepted: 06/04/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Pyrrolysine (Pyl, O) exists in nature as the 22nd proteinogenic amino acid. Despite being a fundamental building block of proteins, studies of Pyl have been hindered by the difficulty and inefficiency of both its chemical and biological syntheses. Here, we improve Pyl biosynthesis via rational engineering and directed evolution of the entire biosynthetic pathway. To accommodate toxicity of Pyl biosynthetic genes in Escherichia coli, we also develop Alternating Phage Assisted Non-Continuous Evolution (Alt-PANCE) that alternates mutagenic and selective phage growths. The evolved pathway provides 32-fold improved yield of Pyl-containing reporter protein compared to the rationally engineered ancestor. Evolved PylB mutants are present at up to 4.5-fold elevated levels inside cells, and show up to 2.2-fold increased protease resistance. This study demonstrates that Alt-PANCE provides a general approach for evolving proteins exhibiting toxic side effects, and further provides an improved pathway capable of producing substantially greater quantities of Pyl-proteins in E. coli. Pyrrolysine (Pyl) exists in nature as the 22nd proteinogenic amino acid, but studies of Pyl have been hindered by the difficulty and inefficiency of both its chemical and biological syntheses. Here, the authors developed an improved PANCE approach to evolve the pylBCD pathway for increased production of Pyl proteins in E. coli.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joanne M L Ho
- Department of Biosciences, Rice University, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Corwin A Miller
- Department of Biosciences, Rice University, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Kathryn A Smith
- Department of Biosciences, Rice University, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Jacob R Mattia
- Department of Biosciences, Rice University, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Matthew R Bennett
- Department of Biosciences, Rice University, Houston, TX, USA. .,Department of Bioengineering, Rice University, Houston, TX, USA.
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24
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De Lise F, Strazzulli A, Iacono R, Curci N, Di Fenza M, Maurelli L, Moracci M, Cobucci-Ponzano B. Programmed Deviations of Ribosomes From Standard Decoding in Archaea. Front Microbiol 2021; 12:688061. [PMID: 34149676 PMCID: PMC8211752 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.688061] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2021] [Accepted: 05/04/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Genetic code decoding, initially considered to be universal and immutable, is now known to be flexible. In fact, in specific genes, ribosomes deviate from the standard translational rules in a programmed way, a phenomenon globally termed recoding. Translational recoding, which has been found in all domains of life, includes a group of events occurring during gene translation, namely stop codon readthrough, programmed ± 1 frameshifting, and ribosome bypassing. These events regulate protein expression at translational level and their mechanisms are well known and characterized in viruses, bacteria and eukaryotes. In this review we summarize the current state-of-the-art of recoding in the third domain of life. In Archaea, it was demonstrated and extensively studied that translational recoding regulates the decoding of the 21st and the 22nd amino acids selenocysteine and pyrrolysine, respectively, and only one case of programmed -1 frameshifting has been reported so far in Saccharolobus solfataricus P2. However, further putative events of translational recoding have been hypothesized in other archaeal species, but not extensively studied and confirmed yet. Although this phenomenon could have some implication for the physiology and adaptation of life in extreme environments, this field is still underexplored and genes whose expression could be regulated by recoding are still poorly characterized. The study of these recoding episodes in Archaea is urgently needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Federica De Lise
- Institute of Biosciences and BioResources - National Research Council of Italy, Naples, Italy
| | - Andrea Strazzulli
- Department of Biology, University of Naples Federico II, Complesso Universitario di Monte S. Angelo, Naples, Italy.,Task Force on Microbiome Studies, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy
| | - Roberta Iacono
- Institute of Biosciences and BioResources - National Research Council of Italy, Naples, Italy.,Department of Biology, University of Naples Federico II, Complesso Universitario di Monte S. Angelo, Naples, Italy
| | - Nicola Curci
- Institute of Biosciences and BioResources - National Research Council of Italy, Naples, Italy.,Department of Biology, University of Naples Federico II, Complesso Universitario di Monte S. Angelo, Naples, Italy
| | - Mauro Di Fenza
- Institute of Biosciences and BioResources - National Research Council of Italy, Naples, Italy
| | - Luisa Maurelli
- Institute of Biosciences and BioResources - National Research Council of Italy, Naples, Italy
| | - Marco Moracci
- Institute of Biosciences and BioResources - National Research Council of Italy, Naples, Italy.,Department of Biology, University of Naples Federico II, Complesso Universitario di Monte S. Angelo, Naples, Italy.,Task Force on Microbiome Studies, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy
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25
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Blue TC, Davis KM. Computational Approaches: An Underutilized Tool in the Quest to Elucidate Radical SAM Dynamics. Molecules 2021; 26:molecules26092590. [PMID: 33946806 PMCID: PMC8124187 DOI: 10.3390/molecules26092590] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2021] [Revised: 04/22/2021] [Accepted: 04/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Enzymes are biological catalysts whose dynamics enable their reactivity. Visualizing conformational changes, in particular, is technically challenging, and little is known about these crucial atomic motions. This is especially problematic for understanding the functional diversity associated with the radical S-adenosyl-L-methionine (SAM) superfamily whose members share a common radical mechanism but ultimately catalyze a broad range of challenging reactions. Computational chemistry approaches provide a readily accessible alternative to exploring the time-resolved behavior of these enzymes that is not limited by experimental logistics. Here, we review the application of molecular docking, molecular dynamics, and density functional theory, as well as hybrid quantum mechanics/molecular mechanics methods to the study of these enzymes, with a focus on understanding the mechanistic dynamics associated with turnover.
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26
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Wang Y, Chen X, Cai W, Tan L, Yu Y, Han B, Li Y, Xie Y, Su Y, Luo X, Liu T. Expanding the Structural Diversity of Protein Building Blocks with Noncanonical Amino Acids Biosynthesized from Aromatic Thiols. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2021. [DOI: 10.1002/ange.202014540] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Yong Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs Department of Molecular and Cellular Pharmacology, Pharmaceutical Sciences Peking University 38 Xueyuan Road, Haidian District Beijing 100191 China
| | - Xiaoxu Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs Department of Molecular and Cellular Pharmacology, Pharmaceutical Sciences Peking University 38 Xueyuan Road, Haidian District Beijing 100191 China
| | - Wenkang Cai
- State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs Department of Molecular and Cellular Pharmacology, Pharmaceutical Sciences Peking University 38 Xueyuan Road, Haidian District Beijing 100191 China
| | - Linzhi Tan
- State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs Department of Molecular and Cellular Pharmacology, Pharmaceutical Sciences Peking University 38 Xueyuan Road, Haidian District Beijing 100191 China
| | - Yutong Yu
- State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs Department of Molecular and Cellular Pharmacology, Pharmaceutical Sciences Peking University 38 Xueyuan Road, Haidian District Beijing 100191 China
| | - Boyang Han
- State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs Department of Molecular and Cellular Pharmacology, Pharmaceutical Sciences Peking University 38 Xueyuan Road, Haidian District Beijing 100191 China
| | - Yuxuan Li
- State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs Department of Molecular and Cellular Pharmacology, Pharmaceutical Sciences Peking University 38 Xueyuan Road, Haidian District Beijing 100191 China
| | - Yuanzhe Xie
- State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs Department of Molecular and Cellular Pharmacology, Pharmaceutical Sciences Peking University 38 Xueyuan Road, Haidian District Beijing 100191 China
| | - Yeyu Su
- State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs Department of Molecular and Cellular Pharmacology, Pharmaceutical Sciences Peking University 38 Xueyuan Road, Haidian District Beijing 100191 China
| | - Xiaozhou Luo
- Shenzhen Institute of Synthetic Biology Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology Chinese Academy of Sciences Shenzhen 518055 China
| | - Tao Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs Department of Molecular and Cellular Pharmacology, Pharmaceutical Sciences Peking University 38 Xueyuan Road, Haidian District Beijing 100191 China
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27
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Wang Y, Chen X, Cai W, Tan L, Yu Y, Han B, Li Y, Xie Y, Su Y, Luo X, Liu T. Expanding the Structural Diversity of Protein Building Blocks with Noncanonical Amino Acids Biosynthesized from Aromatic Thiols. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2021; 60:10040-10048. [PMID: 33570250 DOI: 10.1002/anie.202014540] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2020] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
Incorporation of structurally novel noncanonical amino acids (ncAAs) into proteins is valuable for both scientific and biomedical applications. To expand the structural diversity of available ncAAs and to reduce the burden of chemically synthesizing them, we have developed a general and simple biosynthetic method for genetically encoding novel ncAAs into recombinant proteins by feeding cells with economical commercially available or synthetically accessible aromatic thiols. We demonstrate that nearly 50 ncAAs with a diverse array of structures can be biosynthesized from these simple small-molecule precursors by hijacking the cysteine biosynthetic enzymes, and the resulting ncAAs can subsequently be incorporated into proteins via an expanded genetic code. Moreover, we demonstrate that bioorthogonal reactive groups such as aromatic azides and aromatic ketones can be incorporated into green fluorescent protein or a therapeutic antibody with high yields, allowing for subsequent chemical conjugation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yong Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, Department of Molecular and Cellular Pharmacology, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University, 38 Xueyuan Road, Haidian District, Beijing, 100191, China
| | - Xiaoxu Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, Department of Molecular and Cellular Pharmacology, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University, 38 Xueyuan Road, Haidian District, Beijing, 100191, China
| | - Wenkang Cai
- State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, Department of Molecular and Cellular Pharmacology, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University, 38 Xueyuan Road, Haidian District, Beijing, 100191, China
| | - Linzhi Tan
- State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, Department of Molecular and Cellular Pharmacology, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University, 38 Xueyuan Road, Haidian District, Beijing, 100191, China
| | - Yutong Yu
- State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, Department of Molecular and Cellular Pharmacology, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University, 38 Xueyuan Road, Haidian District, Beijing, 100191, China
| | - Boyang Han
- State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, Department of Molecular and Cellular Pharmacology, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University, 38 Xueyuan Road, Haidian District, Beijing, 100191, China
| | - Yuxuan Li
- State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, Department of Molecular and Cellular Pharmacology, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University, 38 Xueyuan Road, Haidian District, Beijing, 100191, China
| | - Yuanzhe Xie
- State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, Department of Molecular and Cellular Pharmacology, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University, 38 Xueyuan Road, Haidian District, Beijing, 100191, China
| | - Yeyu Su
- State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, Department of Molecular and Cellular Pharmacology, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University, 38 Xueyuan Road, Haidian District, Beijing, 100191, China
| | - Xiaozhou Luo
- Shenzhen Institute of Synthetic Biology, Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, 518055, China
| | - Tao Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, Department of Molecular and Cellular Pharmacology, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University, 38 Xueyuan Road, Haidian District, Beijing, 100191, China
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28
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Singh T, Yadav SK, Vainstein A, Kumar V. Genome recoding strategies to improve cellular properties: mechanisms and advances. ABIOTECH 2021; 2:79-95. [PMID: 34377578 PMCID: PMC7675020 DOI: 10.1007/s42994-020-00030-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2020] [Accepted: 10/07/2020] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
The genetic code, once believed to be universal and immutable, is now known to contain many variations and is not quite universal. The basis for genome recoding strategy is genetic code variation that can be harnessed to improve cellular properties. Thus, genome recoding is a promising strategy for the enhancement of genome flexibility, allowing for novel functions that are not commonly documented in the organism in its natural environment. Here, the basic concept of genetic code and associated mechanisms for the generation of genetic codon variants, including biased codon usage, codon reassignment, and ambiguous decoding, are extensively discussed. Knowledge of the concept of natural genetic code expansion is also detailed. The generation of recoded organisms and associated mechanisms with basic targeting components, including aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase-tRNA pairs, elongation factor EF-Tu and ribosomes, are highlighted for a comprehensive understanding of this concept. The research associated with the generation of diverse recoded organisms is also discussed. The success of genome recoding in diverse multicellular organisms offers a platform for expanding protein chemistry at the biochemical level with non-canonical amino acids, genetically isolating the synthetic organisms from the natural ones, and fighting viruses, including SARS-CoV2, through the creation of attenuated viruses. In conclusion, genome recoding can offer diverse applications for improving cellular properties in the genome-recoded organisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tanya Singh
- Department of Botany, School of Basic Sciences, Central University of Punjab, Bathinda, 151001 India
| | | | - Alexander Vainstein
- Institute of Plant Sciences and Genetics in Agriculture, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Vinay Kumar
- Department of Botany, School of Basic Sciences, Central University of Punjab, Bathinda, 151001 India
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29
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Syed J, Palani S, Clarke ST, Asad Z, Bottrill AR, Jones AME, Sampath K, Balasubramanian MK. Expanding the Zebrafish Genetic Code through Site-Specific Introduction of Azido-lysine, Bicyclononyne-lysine, and Diazirine-lysine. Int J Mol Sci 2019; 20:E2577. [PMID: 31130675 PMCID: PMC6566996 DOI: 10.3390/ijms20102577] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2019] [Revised: 05/22/2019] [Accepted: 05/23/2019] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Site-specific incorporation of un-natural amino acids (UNAA) is a powerful approach to engineer and understand protein function. Site-specific incorporation of UNAAs is achieved through repurposing the amber codon (UAG) as a sense codon for the UNAA, using a tRNACUA that base pairs with an UAG codon in the mRNA and an orthogonal amino-acyl tRNA synthetase (aaRS) that charges the tRNACUA with the UNAA. Here, we report an expansion of the zebrafish genetic code to incorporate the UNAAs, azido-lysine (AzK), bicyclononyne-lysine (BCNK), and diazirine-lysine (AbK) into green fluorescent protein (GFP) and glutathione-s-transferase (GST). We also present proteomic evidence for UNAA incorporation into GFP. Our work sets the stage for the use of AzK, BCNK, and AbK introduction into proteins as a means to investigate and engineer their function in zebrafish.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junetha Syed
- Centre for Mechanochemical Cell Biology and Division of Biomedical Sciences, Warwick Medical School, University of Warwick, Gibbet Hill Road, CV4 7AL Coventry, UK.
| | - Saravanan Palani
- Centre for Mechanochemical Cell Biology and Division of Biomedical Sciences, Warwick Medical School, University of Warwick, Gibbet Hill Road, CV4 7AL Coventry, UK.
| | - Scott T Clarke
- Centre for Mechanochemical Cell Biology and Division of Biomedical Sciences, Warwick Medical School, University of Warwick, Gibbet Hill Road, CV4 7AL Coventry, UK.
| | - Zainab Asad
- Centre for Mechanochemical Cell Biology and Division of Biomedical Sciences, Warwick Medical School, University of Warwick, Gibbet Hill Road, CV4 7AL Coventry, UK.
| | - Andrew R Bottrill
- Proteomics Research Technology Platform and School of Life Sciences, University of Warwick, Gibbet Hill Road, CV4 7AL Coventry, UK.
| | - Alexandra M E Jones
- Proteomics Research Technology Platform and School of Life Sciences, University of Warwick, Gibbet Hill Road, CV4 7AL Coventry, UK.
| | - Karuna Sampath
- Centre for Mechanochemical Cell Biology and Division of Biomedical Sciences, Warwick Medical School, University of Warwick, Gibbet Hill Road, CV4 7AL Coventry, UK.
| | - Mohan K Balasubramanian
- Centre for Mechanochemical Cell Biology and Division of Biomedical Sciences, Warwick Medical School, University of Warwick, Gibbet Hill Road, CV4 7AL Coventry, UK.
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30
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Newton MS, Morrone DJ, Lee KH, Seelig B. Genetic Code Evolution Investigated through the Synthesis and Characterisation of Proteins from Reduced-Alphabet Libraries. Chembiochem 2019; 20:846-856. [PMID: 30511381 DOI: 10.1002/cbic.201800668] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2018] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
The universal genetic code of 20 amino acids is the product of evolution. It is believed that earlier versions of the code had fewer residues. Many theories for the order in which amino acids were integrated into the code have been proposed, considering factors ranging from prebiotic chemistry to codon capture. Several meta-analyses combined these theories to yield a feasible consensus chronology of the genetic code's evolution, but there is a dearth of experimental data to test the hypothesised order. We used combinatorial chemistry to synthesise libraries of random polypeptides that were based on different subsets of the 20 standard amino acids, thus representing different stages of a plausible history of the alphabet. Four libraries were comprised of the five, nine, and 16 most ancient amino acids, and all 20 extant residues for a direct side-by-side comparison. We characterised numerous variants from each library for their solubility and propensity to form secondary, tertiary or quaternary structures. Proteins from the two most ancient libraries were more likely to be soluble than those from the extant library. Several individual protein variants exhibited inducible protein folding and other traits typical of intrinsically disordered proteins. From these libraries, we can infer how primordial protein structure and function might have evolved with the genetic code.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matilda S Newton
- Department of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology and Biophysics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, 55455, USA.,BioTechnology Institute, University of Minnesota, 1479 Gortner Avenue, 140 Gortner Laboratory, St. Paul, MN, 55108-6106, USA
| | - Dana J Morrone
- Department of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology and Biophysics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, 55455, USA.,BioTechnology Institute, University of Minnesota, 1479 Gortner Avenue, 140 Gortner Laboratory, St. Paul, MN, 55108-6106, USA
| | - Kun-Hwa Lee
- Department of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology and Biophysics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, 55455, USA.,BioTechnology Institute, University of Minnesota, 1479 Gortner Avenue, 140 Gortner Laboratory, St. Paul, MN, 55108-6106, USA
| | - Burckhard Seelig
- Department of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology and Biophysics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, 55455, USA.,BioTechnology Institute, University of Minnesota, 1479 Gortner Avenue, 140 Gortner Laboratory, St. Paul, MN, 55108-6106, USA
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31
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Methanogens: pushing the boundaries of biology. Emerg Top Life Sci 2018; 2:629-646. [PMID: 33525834 PMCID: PMC7289024 DOI: 10.1042/etls20180031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2018] [Revised: 10/23/2018] [Accepted: 10/24/2018] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
Methanogens are anaerobic archaea that grow by producing methane gas. These microbes and their exotic metabolism have inspired decades of microbial physiology research that continues to push the boundary of what we know about how microbes conserve energy to grow. The study of methanogens has helped to elucidate the thermodynamic and bioenergetics basis of life, contributed our understanding of evolution and biodiversity, and has garnered an appreciation for the societal utility of studying trophic interactions between environmental microbes, as methanogens are important in microbial conversion of biogenic carbon into methane, a high-energy fuel. This review discusses the theoretical basis for energy conservation by methanogens and identifies gaps in methanogen biology that may be filled by undiscovered or yet-to-be engineered organisms.
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32
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Pyrrolysine in archaea: a 22nd amino acid encoded through a genetic code expansion. Emerg Top Life Sci 2018; 2:607-618. [PMID: 33525836 DOI: 10.1042/etls20180094] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2018] [Revised: 09/24/2018] [Accepted: 09/25/2018] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
The 22nd amino acid discovered to be directly encoded, pyrrolysine, is specified by UAG. Until recently, pyrrolysine was only known to be present in archaea from a methanogenic lineage (Methanosarcinales), where it is important in enzymes catalysing anoxic methylamines metabolism, and a few anaerobic bacteria. Relatively new discoveries have revealed wider presence in archaea, deepened functional understanding, shown remarkable carbon source-dependent expression of expanded decoding and extended exploitation of the pyrrolysine machinery for synthetic code expansion. At the same time, other studies have shown the presence of pyrrolysine-containing archaea in the human gut and this has prompted health considerations. The article reviews our knowledge of this fascinating exception to the 'standard' genetic code.
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33
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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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34
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Aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases: Structure, function, and drug discovery. Int J Biol Macromol 2018; 111:400-414. [PMID: 29305884 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2017.12.157] [Citation(s) in RCA: 79] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2017] [Revised: 12/27/2017] [Accepted: 12/29/2017] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
Aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases (AARSs) are the enzymes that catalyze the aminoacylation reaction by covalently linking an amino acid to its cognate tRNA in the first step of protein translation. Beyond this classical function, these enzymes are also known to have a role in several metabolic and signaling pathways that are important for cell viability. Study of these enzymes is of great interest to the researchers due to its pivotal role in the growth and survival of an organism. Further, unfolding the interesting structural and functional aspects of these enzymes in the last few years has qualified them as a potential drug target against various diseases. Here we review the classification, function, and the conserved as well the appended structural architecture of these enzymes in detail, including its association with multi-synthetase complexes. We also considered their role in human diseases in terms of mutations and autoantibodies against AARSs. Finally, we have discussed the available inhibitors against AARSs. This review offers comprehensive information on AARSs under a single canopy that would be a good inventory for researchers working in this area.
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35
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Espinoza EM, Larsen-Clinton JM, Krzeszewski M, Darabedian N, Gryko DT, Vullev VI. Bioinspired approach toward molecular electrets: synthetic proteome for materials. PURE APPL CHEM 2017. [DOI: 10.1515/pac-2017-0309] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
AbstractMolecular-level control of charge transfer (CT) is essential for both, organic electronics and solar-energy conversion, as well as for a wide range of biological processes. This article provides an overview of the utility of local electric fields originating from molecular dipoles for directing CT processes. Systems with ordered dipoles, i.e. molecular electrets, are the centerpiece of the discussion. The conceptual evolution from biomimicry to biomimesis, and then to biological inspiration, paves the roads leading from testing the understanding of how natural living systems function to implementing these lessons into optimal paradigms for specific applications. This progression of the evolving structure-function relationships allows for the development of bioinspired electrets composed of non-native aromatic amino acids. A set of such non-native residues that are electron-rich can be viewed as a synthetic proteome for hole-transfer electrets. Detailed considerations of the electronic structure of an individual residue prove of key importance for designating the points for optimal injection of holes (i.e. extraction of electrons) in electret oligomers. This multifaceted bioinspired approach for the design of CT molecular systems provides unexplored paradigms for electronic and energy science and engineering.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eli M. Espinoza
- Department of Chemistry, University of California, Riverside, CA 92521, USA
| | | | - Maciej Krzeszewski
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California, Riverside, CA 92521, USA
- Institute of Organic Chemistry, Polish Academy of Sciences, Kasprzaka 44-52, 01-224 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Narek Darabedian
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California, Riverside, CA 92521, USA
| | - Daniel T. Gryko
- Institute of Organic Chemistry, Polish Academy of Sciences, Kasprzaka 44-52, 01-224 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Valentine I. Vullev
- Department of Chemistry, University of California, Riverside, CA 92521, USA
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California, Riverside, CA 92521, USA
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36
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Kruse T, Goris T, Maillard J, Woyke T, Lechner U, de Vos W, Smidt H. Comparative genomics of the genus Desulfitobacterium. FEMS Microbiol Ecol 2017; 93:4443196. [DOI: 10.1093/femsec/fix135] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2017] [Accepted: 10/10/2017] [Indexed: 02/03/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Kruse
- Laboratory of Microbiology, Wageningen University, Stippeneng 4, 6708 WE Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Tobias Goris
- Department of Applied and Ecological Microbiology, Friedrich-Schiller-University Jena, Philosophenweg 12, 07743 Jena, Germany
| | - Julien Maillard
- Laboratory for Environmental Biotechnology, ENAC-IIE-LBE, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Station 6, CH-1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Tanja Woyke
- U.S. Department of Energy Joint Genome Institute, Walnut Creek, CA 94598, USA
| | - Ute Lechner
- Institute of Biology/Microbiology, Martin-Luther-Universität Halle-Wittenberg, Kurt-Mothes-Str. 3, Halle 06120, Germany
| | - Willem de Vos
- Laboratory of Microbiology, Wageningen University, Stippeneng 4, 6708 WE Wageningen, The Netherlands
- Research Programme Unit Immunobiology, Department of Bacteriology and Immunology, Helsinki University, P.O. Box 21, 00014 Helsinki, Finland
| | - Hauke Smidt
- Laboratory of Microbiology, Wageningen University, Stippeneng 4, 6708 WE Wageningen, The Netherlands
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37
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Abstract
Pyrrolysine is the 22nd proteinogenic amino acid encoded into proteins in response to amber (TAG) codons in a small number of archaea and bacteria. The incorporation of pyrrolysine is facilitated by a specialized aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase (PylRS) and its cognate tRNA (tRNAPyl). The secondary structure of tRNAPyl contains several unique features not found in canonical tRNAs. Numerous studies have demonstrated that the PylRS/tRNAPyl pair from archaea is orthogonal in E. coli and eukaryotic hosts, which has led to the widespread use of this pair for the genetic incorporation of non-canonical amino acids. In this brief review we examine the work that has been done to elucidate the structure of tRNAPyl, its interaction with PylRS, and survey recent progress on the use of tRNAPyl as a tool for genetic code expansion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeffery M Tharp
- a Department of Chemistry , Texas A&M University , College Station , TX , USA
| | - Andreas Ehnbom
- a Department of Chemistry , Texas A&M University , College Station , TX , USA
| | - Wenshe R Liu
- a Department of Chemistry , Texas A&M University , College Station , TX , USA
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38
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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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39
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Gilmore SP, Henske JK, Sexton JA, Solomon KV, Seppälä S, Yoo JI, Huyett LM, Pressman A, Cogan JZ, Kivenson V, Peng X, Tan Y, Valentine DL, O'Malley MA. Genomic analysis of methanogenic archaea reveals a shift towards energy conservation. BMC Genomics 2017; 18:639. [PMID: 28826405 PMCID: PMC5563889 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-017-4036-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2017] [Accepted: 08/08/2017] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The metabolism of archaeal methanogens drives methane release into the environment and is critical to understanding global carbon cycling. Methanogenesis operates at a very low reducing potential compared to other forms of respiration and is therefore critical to many anaerobic environments. Harnessing or altering methanogen metabolism has the potential to mitigate global warming and even be utilized for energy applications. RESULTS Here, we report draft genome sequences for the isolated methanogens Methanobacterium bryantii, Methanosarcina spelaei, Methanosphaera cuniculi, and Methanocorpusculum parvum. These anaerobic, methane-producing archaea represent a diverse set of isolates, capable of methylotrophic, acetoclastic, and hydrogenotrophic methanogenesis. Assembly and analysis of the genomes allowed for simple and rapid reconstruction of metabolism in the four methanogens. Comparison of the distribution of Clusters of Orthologous Groups (COG) proteins to a sample of genomes from the RefSeq database revealed a trend towards energy conservation in genome composition of all methanogens sequenced. Further analysis of the predicted membrane proteins and transporters distinguished differing energy conservation methods utilized during methanogenesis, such as chemiosmotic coupling in Msar. spelaei and electron bifurcation linked to chemiosmotic coupling in Mbac. bryantii and Msph. cuniculi. CONCLUSIONS Methanogens occupy a unique ecological niche, acting as the terminal electron acceptors in anaerobic environments, and their genomes display a significant shift towards energy conservation. The genome-enabled reconstructed metabolisms reported here have significance to diverse anaerobic communities and have led to proposed substrate utilization not previously reported in isolation, such as formate and methanol metabolism in Mbac. bryantii and CO2 metabolism in Msph. cuniculi. The newly proposed substrates establish an important foundation with which to decipher how methanogens behave in native communities, as CO2 and formate are common electron carriers in microbial communities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sean P Gilmore
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of California, Santa Barbara, California, USA
| | - John K Henske
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of California, Santa Barbara, California, USA
| | - Jessica A Sexton
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of California, Santa Barbara, California, USA
| | - Kevin V Solomon
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of California, Santa Barbara, California, USA.,Present Address: Agricultural & Biological Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana, USA
| | - Susanna Seppälä
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of California, Santa Barbara, California, USA.,Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Biosustainability, Technical University of Denmark, Hørsholm, Denmark
| | - Justin I Yoo
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of California, Santa Barbara, California, USA
| | - Lauren M Huyett
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of California, Santa Barbara, California, USA
| | - Abe Pressman
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of California, Santa Barbara, California, USA
| | - James Z Cogan
- Biology Program, College of Creative Studies, University of California, Santa Barbara, California, USA
| | - Veronika Kivenson
- Department of Earth Science and Marine Science Institute, University of California, Santa Barbara, California, USA
| | - Xuefeng Peng
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of California, Santa Barbara, California, USA.,Department of Earth Science and Marine Science Institute, University of California, Santa Barbara, California, USA
| | - YerPeng Tan
- California NanoScience Institute, University of California, Santa Barbara, California, USA
| | - David L Valentine
- Department of Earth Science and Marine Science Institute, University of California, Santa Barbara, California, USA
| | - Michelle A O'Malley
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of California, Santa Barbara, California, USA.
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40
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Abstract
The genetic code-the language used by cells to translate their genomes into proteins that perform many cellular functions-is highly conserved throughout natural life. Rewriting the genetic code could lead to new biological functions such as expanding protein chemistries with noncanonical amino acids (ncAAs) and genetically isolating synthetic organisms from natural organisms and viruses. It has long been possible to transiently produce proteins bearing ncAAs, but stabilizing an expanded genetic code for sustained function in vivo requires an integrated approach: creating recoded genomes and introducing new translation machinery that function together without compromising viability or clashing with endogenous pathways. In this review, we discuss design considerations and technologies for expanding the genetic code. The knowledge obtained by rewriting the genetic code will deepen our understanding of how genomes are designed and how the canonical genetic code evolved.
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Affiliation(s)
- Takahito Mukai
- Department of Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut 06511;
| | - Marc J Lajoie
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98195
| | - Markus Englert
- Department of Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut 06511;
| | - Dieter Söll
- Department of Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut 06511; .,Department of Chemistry, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut 06511
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41
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Völler JS, Budisa N. Coupling genetic code expansion and metabolic engineering for synthetic cells. Curr Opin Biotechnol 2017; 48:1-7. [PMID: 28237511 DOI: 10.1016/j.copbio.2017.02.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2017] [Revised: 02/06/2017] [Accepted: 02/07/2017] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Orthogonal protein translation with noncanonical amino acids (ncAAs) has become a standard method in biosciences. Whereas much effort is made to broaden the chemical space of ncAAs, only few attempts on their systematic low-cost in situ production are reported until now. The main aim is to engineer cells with newly designed biosynthetic pathways coupled with orthogonal aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase/tRNA pairs (o-pairs). These should provide cost-effective solutions to industrially relevant bio-production problems, such as peptide/protein production beyond the canonical set of natural molecules and to expand the arsenal of chemistries available for living cells. Therefore, coupling genetic code expansion (GCE) with metabolic engineering is the basic prerequisite to transform orthogonal translation from a standard technique in academic research to industrial biotechnology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jan-Stefan Völler
- Department of Chemistry, Technische Universität Berlin, Müller-Breslau-Straße 10, 10623 Berlin, Germany
| | - Nediljko Budisa
- Department of Chemistry, Technische Universität Berlin, Müller-Breslau-Straße 10, 10623 Berlin, Germany.
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42
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Li Y, Leahy SC, Jeyanathan J, Henderson G, Cox F, Altermann E, Kelly WJ, Lambie SC, Janssen PH, Rakonjac J, Attwood GT. The complete genome sequence of the methanogenic archaeon ISO4-H5 provides insights into the methylotrophic lifestyle of a ruminal representative of the Methanomassiliicoccales. Stand Genomic Sci 2016; 11:59. [PMID: 27602181 PMCID: PMC5011839 DOI: 10.1186/s40793-016-0183-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2016] [Accepted: 08/22/2016] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Methane emissions from agriculture represent around 9 % of global anthropogenic greenhouse emissions. The single largest source of this methane is animal enteric fermentation, predominantly from ruminant livestock where it is produced mainly in their fermentative forestomach (or reticulo-rumen) by a group of archaea known as methanogens. In order to reduce methane emissions from ruminants, it is necessary to understand the role of methanogenic archaea in the rumen, and to identify their distinguishing characteristics that can be used to develop methane mitigation technologies. To gain insights into the role of methylotrophic methanogens in the rumen environment, the genome of a methanogenic archaeon has been sequenced. This isolate, strain ISO4-H5, was isolated from the ovine rumen and belongs to the order Methanomassiliicoccales. Genomic analysis suggests ISO4-H5 is an obligate hydrogen-dependent methylotrophic methanogen, able to use methanol and methylamines as substrates for methanogenesis. Like other organisms within this order, ISO4-H5 does not possess genes required for the first six steps of hydrogenotrophic methanogenesis. Comparison between the genomes of different members of the order Methanomassiliicoccales revealed strong conservation in energy metabolism, particularly in genes of the methylotrophic methanogenesis pathway, as well as in the biosynthesis and use of pyrrolysine. Unlike members of Methanomassiliicoccales from human sources, ISO4-H5 does not contain the genes required for production of coenzyme M, and so likely requires external coenzyme M to survive.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yang Li
- AgResearch Limited, Grasslands Research Centre, Palmerston North, New Zealand
- Institute of Fundamental Sciences, Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand
| | - Sinead C. Leahy
- AgResearch Limited, Grasslands Research Centre, Palmerston North, New Zealand
| | | | - Gemma Henderson
- AgResearch Limited, Grasslands Research Centre, Palmerston North, New Zealand
| | - Faith Cox
- AgResearch Limited, Grasslands Research Centre, Palmerston North, New Zealand
| | - Eric Altermann
- AgResearch Limited, Grasslands Research Centre, Palmerston North, New Zealand
| | - William J. Kelly
- AgResearch Limited, Grasslands Research Centre, Palmerston North, New Zealand
| | - Suzanne C. Lambie
- AgResearch Limited, Grasslands Research Centre, Palmerston North, New Zealand
| | - Peter H. Janssen
- AgResearch Limited, Grasslands Research Centre, Palmerston North, New Zealand
| | - Jasna Rakonjac
- Institute of Fundamental Sciences, Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand
| | - Graeme T. Attwood
- AgResearch Limited, Grasslands Research Centre, Palmerston North, New Zealand
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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: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [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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Aliyu H, De Maayer P, Cowan D. The genome of the Antarctic polyextremophileNesterenkoniasp. AN1 reveals adaptive strategies for survival under multiple stress conditions. FEMS Microbiol Ecol 2016; 92:fiw032. [DOI: 10.1093/femsec/fiw032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/12/2016] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
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Abstract
Isomerization reactions are fundamental in biology, and isomers usually differ in their biological role and pharmacological effects. In this study, we have cataloged the isomerization reactions known to occur in biology using a combination of manual and computational approaches. This method provides a robust basis for comparison and clustering of the reactions into classes. Comparing our results with the Enzyme Commission (EC) classification, the standard approach to represent enzyme function on the basis of the overall chemistry of the catalyzed reaction, expands our understanding of the biochemistry of isomerization. The grouping of reactions involving stereoisomerism is straightforward with two distinct types (racemases/epimerases and cis-trans isomerases), but reactions entailing structural isomerism are diverse and challenging to classify using a hierarchical approach. This study provides an overview of which isomerases occur in nature, how we should describe and classify them, and their diversity.
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46
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Carter CW, Wolfenden R. tRNA acceptor-stem and anticodon bases embed separate features of amino acid chemistry. RNA Biol 2015; 13:145-51. [PMID: 26595350 DOI: 10.1080/15476286.2015.1112488] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/22/2022] Open
Abstract
The universal genetic code is a translation table by which nucleic acid sequences can be interpreted as polypeptides with a wide range of biological functions. That information is used by aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases to translate the code. Moreover, amino acid properties dictate protein folding. We recently reported that digital correlation techniques could identify patterns in tRNA identity elements that govern recognition by synthetases. Our analysis, and the functionality of truncated synthetases that cannot recognize the tRNA anticodon, support the conclusion that the tRNA acceptor stem houses an independent code for the same 20 amino acids that likely functioned earlier in the emergence of genetics. The acceptor-stem code, related to amino acid size, is distinct from a code in the anticodon that is related to amino acid polarity. Details of the acceptor-stem code suggest that it was useful in preserving key properties of stereochemically-encoded peptides that had developed the capacity to interact catalytically with RNA. The quantitative embedding of the chemical properties of amino acids into tRNA bases has implications for the origins of molecular biology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charles W Carter
- a Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics , University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill , Chapel Hill , NC 27599-7260
| | - Richard Wolfenden
- a Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics , University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill , Chapel Hill , NC 27599-7260
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47
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Bezerra AR, Guimarães AR, Santos MAS. Non-Standard Genetic Codes Define New Concepts for Protein Engineering. Life (Basel) 2015; 5:1610-28. [PMID: 26569314 PMCID: PMC4695839 DOI: 10.3390/life5041610] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2015] [Revised: 10/12/2015] [Accepted: 10/21/2015] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The essential feature of the genetic code is the strict one-to-one correspondence between codons and amino acids. The canonical code consists of three stop codons and 61 sense codons that encode 20% of the amino acid repertoire observed in nature. It was originally designated as immutable and universal due to its conservation in most organisms, but sequencing of genes from the human mitochondrial genomes revealed deviations in codon assignments. Since then, alternative codes have been reported in both nuclear and mitochondrial genomes and genetic code engineering has become an important research field. Here, we review the most recent concepts arising from the study of natural non-standard genetic codes with special emphasis on codon re-assignment strategies that are relevant to engineering genetic code in the laboratory. Recent tools for synthetic biology and current attempts to engineer new codes for incorporation of non-standard amino acids are also reviewed in this article.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana R Bezerra
- Health Sciences Department, Institute for Biomedicine-iBiMED, University of Aveiro, Campus de Santiago, Aveiro 3810-193, Portugal.
| | - Ana R Guimarães
- Health Sciences Department, Institute for Biomedicine-iBiMED, University of Aveiro, Campus de Santiago, Aveiro 3810-193, Portugal.
| | - Manuel A S Santos
- Health Sciences Department, Institute for Biomedicine-iBiMED, University of Aveiro, Campus de Santiago, Aveiro 3810-193, Portugal.
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48
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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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49
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Lambie SC, Kelly WJ, Leahy SC, Li D, Reilly K, McAllister TA, Valle ER, Attwood GT, Altermann E. The complete genome sequence of the rumen methanogen Methanosarcina barkeri CM1. Stand Genomic Sci 2015; 10:57. [PMID: 26413197 PMCID: PMC4582637 DOI: 10.1186/s40793-015-0038-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2014] [Accepted: 07/09/2015] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Methanosarcina species are the most metabolically versatile of the methanogenic Archaea and can obtain energy for growth by producing methane via the hydrogenotrophic, acetoclastic or methylotrophic pathways. Methanosarcina barkeri CM1 was isolated from the rumen of a New Zealand Friesian cow grazing a ryegrass/clover pasture, and its genome has been sequenced to provide information on the phylogenetic diversity of rumen methanogens with a view to developing technologies for methane mitigation. The 4.5 Mb chromosome has an average G + C content of 39 %, and encodes 3523 protein-coding genes, but has no plasmid or prophage sequences. The gene content is very similar to that of M. barkeri Fusaro which was isolated from freshwater sediment. CM1 has a full complement of genes for all three methanogenesis pathways, but its genome shows many differences from those of other sequenced rumen methanogens. Consequently strategies to mitigate ruminant methane need to include information on the different methanogens that occur in the rumen.
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Affiliation(s)
- Suzanne C Lambie
- Rumen Microbiology, Animal Nutrition and Health, AgResearch Limited, Tennent Drive, Private Bag 11008, Palmerston North, 4442 New Zealand
| | - William J Kelly
- Rumen Microbiology, Animal Nutrition and Health, AgResearch Limited, Tennent Drive, Private Bag 11008, Palmerston North, 4442 New Zealand
| | - Sinead C Leahy
- Rumen Microbiology, Animal Nutrition and Health, AgResearch Limited, Tennent Drive, Private Bag 11008, Palmerston North, 4442 New Zealand ; New Zealand Agricultural Greenhouse Gas Research Centre, Grasslands Research Centre, Tennent Drive, Private Bag 11008, Palmerston North, 4442 New Zealand
| | - Dong Li
- Rumen Microbiology, Animal Nutrition and Health, AgResearch Limited, Tennent Drive, Private Bag 11008, Palmerston North, 4442 New Zealand
| | - Kerri Reilly
- Rumen Microbiology, Animal Nutrition and Health, AgResearch Limited, Tennent Drive, Private Bag 11008, Palmerston North, 4442 New Zealand
| | - Tim A McAllister
- Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Lethbridge Research Centre, Lethbridge, Alberta T1J 4B1 Canada
| | - Edith R Valle
- Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Lethbridge Research Centre, Lethbridge, Alberta T1J 4B1 Canada
| | - Graeme T Attwood
- Rumen Microbiology, Animal Nutrition and Health, AgResearch Limited, Tennent Drive, Private Bag 11008, Palmerston North, 4442 New Zealand ; New Zealand Agricultural Greenhouse Gas Research Centre, Grasslands Research Centre, Tennent Drive, Private Bag 11008, Palmerston North, 4442 New Zealand
| | - Eric Altermann
- Rumen Microbiology, Animal Nutrition and Health, AgResearch Limited, Tennent Drive, Private Bag 11008, Palmerston North, 4442 New Zealand ; Riddet Institute, Massey University, Palmerston North, 4442 New Zealand
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50
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Ehrlich M, Gattner MJ, Viverge B, Bretzler J, Eisen D, Stadlmeier M, Vrabel M, Carell T. Orchestrating the Biosynthesis of an Unnatural Pyrrolysine Amino Acid for Its Direct Incorporation into Proteins Inside Living Cells. Chemistry 2015; 21:7701-4. [DOI: 10.1002/chem.201500971] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2015] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
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