Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Adam T. Beattie, Daniel L. Dunkelmann, Jason W. Chin
Summary: Mutually orthogonal aminoacyl transfer RNA synthetase/transfer RNA pairs are essential for encoding non-canonical amino acids into proteins. In this study, we discovered quintuply orthogonal pyrrolysyl-tRNA synthetase (PylRS)/pyrrolysyl-tRNA (tRNA(Pyl)) pairs and identified empirical sequence identity thresholds for mutual orthogonality. By testing various pairs and engineering specificities, we were able to create 924 mutually orthogonal PylRS/tRNA(Pyl) pairs, 1324 triply orthogonal pairs, 128 quadruply orthogonal pairs, and 8 quintuply orthogonal pairs.
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Jessica T. Stieglitz, Priyanka Lahiri, Matthew Stout, James A. Van Deventer
Summary: Archaeal pyrrolysyl-tRNA synthetases (PylRSs) have been used to genetically encode over 200 distinct noncanonical amino acids (ncAAs) in proteins in Escherichia coli and mammalian cells. This study demonstrates the potential of using Methanomethylophilus alvus PylRS (MaPylRS) in yeast to incorporate ncAAs into proteins. The addition of MaPylRS to the toolkit of translation machinery in Saccharomyces cerevisiae opens up possibilities for expanding the range of genetically encodable ncAAs.
ACS SYNTHETIC BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Qunfeng Zhang, Wenlong Zheng, Zhongdi Song, Qiang Zhang, Lirong Yang, Jianping Wu, Jianping Lin, Gang Xu, Haoran Yu
Summary: This study developed machine learning models to predict the substrate specificity of PylRS for novel NCAAs. The models showed high accuracy and provided a framework for expanding the substrate scope of PylRS variants and developing machine learning models for other PylRS variants.
ACS SYNTHETIC BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Haolin Zhang, Xuemei Gong, Qianqian Zhao, Takahito Mukai, Oscar Vargas-Rodriguez, Huiming Zhang, Yuxing Zhang, Paul Wassel, Kazuaki Amikura, Julie Maupin-Furlow, Yan Ren, Xun Xu, Yuri Wolf, Kira S. Makarova, Eugene Koonin, Yue Shen, Dieter Soll, Xian Fu
Summary: This study identified two mutually orthogonal PyIRS/tRNA(Pyl) pairs in a halophilic methanogen,and demonstrated that they can simultaneously decode different codons for the incorporation of distinct non-canonical amino acids.
NUCLEIC ACIDS RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Nikolaj G. Koch, Tobias Baumann, Nediljko Budisa
Summary: Introducing non-canonical amino acids (ncAAs) through engineered orthogonal pairs of aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases and tRNAs is a useful tool for expanding the genetic code, but often limited by low yields of chemically modified target proteins. The solubility and folding of engineered enzymes can be a bottleneck for the production of ncAA-containing proteins in vivo, with strategies such as solubility tags improving enzyme solubility and translation efficiency. These methods enhance protein production with engineered PylRS variants and even wild-type enzymes, showing significant efficiency improvements.
FRONTIERS IN BIOENGINEERING AND BIOTECHNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Jonathan T. Fischer, Dieter Soll, Jeffery M. Tharp
Summary: This study evolved MaPylRS enzyme using PANCE technology to obtain a highly active variant, PylRS(opt), which exhibits high activity and selectivity towards multiple amino acid derivatives and can be used to enhance the activity of other PylRS constructs.
FRONTIERS IN MOLECULAR BIOSCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
David G. Schwark, Margaret A. Schmitt, John D. Fisk
Summary: Genetic code expansion has focused on reassigning amber stop codons to insert non-canonical amino acids into proteins. Efforts have been made to use evolved aminoacyl tRNA synthetase variants to incorporate multiple non-canonical amino acids in response to sense codons. A new highly efficient variant of an orthogonal tRNA/aaRS pair was evolved to activate and incorporate tyrosine, rivaling the efficiency of the wild-type pair.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Erol C. Vatansever, Kai S. Yang, Zhi Zachary Geng, Yuchen Qiao, Pingwei Li, Shiqing Xu, Wenshe Ray Liu
Summary: Researchers have designed a PylRS mutant, oClFRS, which efficiently catalyzes the genetic incorporation of o-substituted phenylalanines and have elucidated its structure and function. The binding of o-ClF in the active site of oClFRS involves two halogen bonds, which are crucial for its activity.
JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Chia-Chuan Cho, Lauren R. Blankenship, Xinyu Ma, Shiqing Xu, Wenshe Liu
Summary: The study investigated the amber suppression-based noncanonical amino acid mutagenesis technique in both basic and applied research, discovering a new cleavage mechanism of MmPylRS and stabilizing MmPylRS by introducing the P188G mutation, enabling enhanced incorporation of BocK and other noncanonical amino acids.
JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Natalie Krahn, Jingji Zhang, Sergey Melnikov, Jeffery M. Tharp, Alessandra Villa, Armaan Patel, Rebecca J. Howard, Haben Gabir, Trushar R. Patel, Jorg Stetefeld, Joseph Puglisi, Dieter Soll
Summary: Protein translation is achieved through tRNA aminoacylation and ribosomal elongation. This study explores the tRNA identity elements for a Delta pylSn tRNA(Pyl) and identifies five key elements necessary for MaPylRS activity.
NUCLEIC ACIDS RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Yi-Hui Wang, Mu-Lung Jian, Pei-Jung Chen, Jo-Chu Tsou, Le P. Truong, Yane-Shih Wang
Summary: This study explores the application of expanding genetic codes in developing protein cage-based delivery systems, utilizing evolved Methanosarcina mazei pyrrolysyl-tRNA synthetase (PylRS) and tRNA(Pyl) to recognize para-substituted phenylalanine analogs. The engineered variants successfully incorporate p-azido-l-phenylalanine (AzF) into human heavy chain ferritin (Ftn), demonstrating the potential for site-specific drug loading in protein nanocages.
FRONTIERS IN CHEMISTRY
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Christopher J. J. Taylor, Florence J. J. Hardy, Ashleigh J. J. Burke, Riley M. M. Bednar, Ryan A. A. Mehl, Anthony P. P. Green, Sarah L. L. Lovelock
Summary: The availability of an expanded genetic code opens up new possibilities for enzyme design and engineering. Histidine analogues have proven to be versatile in enhancing enzyme function and serving as catalytic nucleophiles. The ability to genetically encode multiple functional residues could greatly expand the range of chemistry accessible within enzyme active sites.
Letter
Immunology
Yoshinao Muro, Yuta Yamashita, Haruka Koizumi, Mariko Ogawa-Momohara, Takuya Takeichi, Teruyuki Mitsuma, Masashi Akiyama
Summary: Anti-aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase (anti-ARS) antibodies are helpful in identifying inflammatory myopathy patients. In a study with Japanese patients, autoantibodies against CysARS and ValARS were found in the serum of two dermatomyositis patients. One patient showed features of anti-synthetase syndrome, while the other did not. Further research is needed to explore the clinical differences among different anti-ARS antibodies.
AUTOIMMUNITY REVIEWS
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Jessica M. Warren, Amanda K. Broz, Ana Martinez-Hottovy, Christian Elowsky, Alan C. Christensen, Daniel B. Sloan
Summary: The number of tRNAs encoded in plant mitochondrial genomes varies considerably. The loss of bacterial-like mitochondrial tRNA genes necessitates the import of nuclear-encoded counterparts with little sequence similarity. The evolution of aaRS subcellular localization in Sileneae reveals differing constraints on tRNA/aaRS interactions and alternative coevolutionary paths for maintaining organellar translation in plant cells.
MOLECULAR BIOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2023)
Review
Immunology
Angeles S. Galindo-Feria, Antonella Notarnicola, Ingrid E. Lundberg, Begum Horuluoglu
Summary: Anti-synthetase syndrome is an autoimmune disease characterized by the presence of autoantibodies targeting aminoacyl t-RNA synthetases along with various clinical features. This review summarizes the functions of aaRSs, their autoantigenic properties, and their association with ASSD.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Thomas C. T. Michaels, Pernille Yde, Julian C. W. Willis, Mogens H. Jensen, Daniel Otzen, Christopher M. Dobson, Alexander K. Buell, Tuomas P. J. Knowles
JOURNAL OF CHEMICAL PHYSICS
(2015)
Article
Physics, Applied
Jan Mertens, Richard W. Bowman, Julian C. W. Willis, Adam Robinson, Darryl Cotton, Richard White, Keith A. Seffen, Jeremy J. Baumberg
PHYSICAL REVIEW APPLIED
(2015)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Vaclav Beranek, Julian C. W. Willis, Jason W. Chin
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Daniele Cervettini, Shan Tang, Stephen D. Fried, Julian C. W. Willis, Louise F. H. Funke, Lucy J. Colwell, Jason W. Chin
NATURE BIOTECHNOLOGY
(2020)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Daniel L. Dunkelmann, Julian C. W. Willis, Adam T. Beattie, Jason W. Chin
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Julian C. W. Willis, Pedro Silva-Pinheiro, Lily Widdup, Michal Minczuk, David R. Liu
Summary: DddA-derived cytosine base editors, specifically zinc finger DdCBEs, have been developed and optimized to improve their editing performance in organelle and nuclear DNA. These findings demonstrate a compact, all-protein base editing research tool for precise editing without double-strand breaks.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2022)