1
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Kim D, Sung D, Lee JW. Expanding the genetic code: Strategies for noncanonical amino acid incorporation in biopolymer. BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY 2025; 432:132691. [PMID: 40381810 DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2025.132691] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2025] [Revised: 05/07/2025] [Accepted: 05/15/2025] [Indexed: 05/20/2025]
Abstract
Codon expansion has become a powerful tool for overcoming the limitations of the standard genetic code system, which restricts the building block of proteins to canonical amino acids. The incorporation of non-canonical amino acids (ncAAs) into proteins presents a significant opportunity to expand their functional diversity. The precise incorporation of ncAAs in vivo requires an orthogonal tRNA/aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase pair and a blank codon to assign them. Studies have focused on the biosynthesis of proteins with novel chemical properties alongside biotechnological advancements in codon expansion research. The three principal strategies for codon expansion are: stop codon utilization, quadruplet codon generation, and sense codon compression. Although using stop codons as blank codons remains an effective approach, the need for additional blank codons has expanded research into quadruplet codons and sense-codon compression. This review presents an overview of each strategy by integrating recent advances in research. We discuss the advantages and limitations of these strategies, as well as the challenges encountered. Subsequently, we propose potential approaches to enhance the efficiency and fidelity of ncAA incorporation. The insights presented in this review provide perspectives for future research and facilitate the advancement of codon expansion and its applications in biotechnology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Donghyeon Kim
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH), Pohang 37673, Republic of Korea
| | - Doeon Sung
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH), Pohang 37673, Republic of Korea
| | - Jeong Wook Lee
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH), Pohang 37673, Republic of Korea; Division of Interdisciplinary Bioscience and Bioengineering (I-Bio), Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH), Pohang 37673, Republic of Korea.
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2
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Biela AD, Nowak JS, Biela AP, Mukherjee S, Moafinejad SN, Maiti S, Chramiec-Głąbik A, Mehta R, Jeżowski J, Dobosz D, Dahate P, Arluison V, Wien F, Indyka P, Rawski M, Bujnicki JM, Lin TY, Glatt S. Determining the effects of pseudouridine incorporation on human tRNAs. EMBO J 2025:10.1038/s44318-025-00443-y. [PMID: 40301665 DOI: 10.1038/s44318-025-00443-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2025] [Revised: 03/18/2025] [Accepted: 04/02/2025] [Indexed: 05/01/2025] Open
Abstract
Transfer RNAs (tRNAs) are ubiquitous non-coding RNA molecules required to translate mRNA-encoded sequence information into nascent polypeptide chains. Their relatively small size and heterogenous patterns of their RNA modifications have impeded the systematic structural characterization of individual tRNAs. Here, we use single-particle cryo-EM to determine the structures of four human tRNAs before and after incorporation of pseudouridines (Ψ). Following post-transcriptional modifications by distinct combinations of human pseudouridine synthases, we find that tRNAs become stabilized and undergo specific local structural changes. We establish interactions between the D- and T-arms as the key linchpin in the tertiary structure of tRNAs. Our structures of human tRNAs highlight the vast potential of cryo-EM combined with biophysical measurements and computational simulations for structure-function analyses of tRNAs and other small, folded RNA domains.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna D Biela
- Malopolska Centre of Biotechnology, Jagiellonian University, 30-387, Krakow, Poland
| | - Jakub S Nowak
- Malopolska Centre of Biotechnology, Jagiellonian University, 30-387, Krakow, Poland
| | - Artur P Biela
- Malopolska Centre of Biotechnology, Jagiellonian University, 30-387, Krakow, Poland
| | - Sunandan Mukherjee
- Laboratory of Bioinformatics and Protein Engineering, International Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology in Warsaw, 02-109, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Seyed Naeim Moafinejad
- Laboratory of Bioinformatics and Protein Engineering, International Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology in Warsaw, 02-109, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Satyabrata Maiti
- Laboratory of Bioinformatics and Protein Engineering, International Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology in Warsaw, 02-109, Warsaw, Poland
| | | | - Rahul Mehta
- Malopolska Centre of Biotechnology, Jagiellonian University, 30-387, Krakow, Poland
- Doctoral School of Exact and Natural Sciences, Jagiellonian University, 30-348, Krakow, Poland
| | - Jakub Jeżowski
- Malopolska Centre of Biotechnology, Jagiellonian University, 30-387, Krakow, Poland
| | - Dominika Dobosz
- Malopolska Centre of Biotechnology, Jagiellonian University, 30-387, Krakow, Poland
| | - Priyanka Dahate
- Malopolska Centre of Biotechnology, Jagiellonian University, 30-387, Krakow, Poland
| | - Veronique Arluison
- Laboratoire Léon Brillouin LLB, UMR12 CEA CNRS, CEA Saclay, 91191, Gif-sur-Yvette, France
- Université Paris Cité, UFR Sciences du vivant, 75006, Paris, Cedex, France
| | - Frank Wien
- Synchrotron SOLEIL, L'Orme des Merisiers, Saint Aubin BP48, 91192, Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | - Paulina Indyka
- Malopolska Centre of Biotechnology, Jagiellonian University, 30-387, Krakow, Poland
- National Synchrotron Radiation Centre SOLARIS, Jagiellonian University, 30-392, Krakow, Poland
| | - Michal Rawski
- Malopolska Centre of Biotechnology, Jagiellonian University, 30-387, Krakow, Poland
- National Synchrotron Radiation Centre SOLARIS, Jagiellonian University, 30-392, Krakow, Poland
| | - Janusz M Bujnicki
- Laboratory of Bioinformatics and Protein Engineering, International Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology in Warsaw, 02-109, Warsaw, Poland.
| | - Ting-Yu Lin
- Malopolska Centre of Biotechnology, Jagiellonian University, 30-387, Krakow, Poland.
- Department of Biosciences, Durham University, DH1 3LE, Durham, UK.
| | - Sebastian Glatt
- Malopolska Centre of Biotechnology, Jagiellonian University, 30-387, Krakow, Poland.
- University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, 1210, Vienna, Austria.
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3
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Casteleijn MG, Abendroth U, Zemella A, Walter R, Rashmi R, Haag R, Kubick S. Beyond In Vivo, Pharmaceutical Molecule Production in Cell-Free Systems and the Use of Noncanonical Amino Acids Therein. Chem Rev 2025; 125:1303-1331. [PMID: 39841856 PMCID: PMC11826901 DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemrev.4c00126] [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: 02/12/2024] [Revised: 12/26/2024] [Accepted: 01/06/2025] [Indexed: 01/24/2025]
Abstract
Throughout history, we have looked to nature to discover and copy pharmaceutical solutions to prevent and heal diseases. Due to the advances in metabolic engineering and the production of pharmaceutical proteins in different host cells, we have moved from mimicking nature to the delicate engineering of cells and proteins. We can now produce novel drug molecules, which are fusions of small chemical drugs and proteins. Currently we are at the brink of yet another step to venture beyond nature's border with the use of unnatural amino acids and manufacturing without the use of living cells using cell-free systems. In this review, we summarize the progress and limitations of the last decades in the development of pharmaceutical protein development, production in cells, and cell-free systems. We also discuss possible future directions of the field.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Ulrike Abendroth
- VTT
Technical Research Centre of Finland Ltd, 02150 Espoo, Finland
| | - Anne Zemella
- Fraunhofer
Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology (IZI), Branch Bioanalytics
and Bioprocesses (IZI-BB), Am Mühlenberg, 14476 Potsdam, Germany
| | - Ruben Walter
- Fraunhofer
Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology (IZI), Branch Bioanalytics
and Bioprocesses (IZI-BB), Am Mühlenberg, 14476 Potsdam, Germany
| | - Rashmi Rashmi
- Freie
Universität Berlin, Institute of Chemistry and Biochemistry, 14195 Berlin, Germany
| | - Rainer Haag
- Freie
Universität Berlin, Institute of Chemistry and Biochemistry, 14195 Berlin, Germany
| | - Stefan Kubick
- Freie
Universität Berlin, Institute of Chemistry and Biochemistry, 14195 Berlin, Germany
- Faculty
of Health Sciences, Joint Faculty of the
Brandenburg University of Technology Cottbus–Senftenberg, The
Brandenburg Medical School Theodor Fontane and the University of Potsdam, 14469 Potsdam, Germany
- B4 PharmaTech
GmbH, Altensteinstraße
40, 14195 Berlin, Germany
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4
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Huang Y, Zhang P, Wang H, Chen Y, Liu T, Luo X. Genetic Code Expansion: Recent Developments and Emerging Applications. Chem Rev 2025; 125:523-598. [PMID: 39737807 PMCID: PMC11758808 DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemrev.4c00216] [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: 04/02/2024] [Revised: 12/02/2024] [Accepted: 12/09/2024] [Indexed: 01/01/2025]
Abstract
The concept of genetic code expansion (GCE) has revolutionized the field of chemical and synthetic biology, enabling the site-specific incorporation of noncanonical amino acids (ncAAs) into proteins, thus opening new avenues in research and applications across biology and medicine. In this review, we cover the principles of GCE, including the optimization of the aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase (aaRS)/tRNA system and the advancements in translation system engineering. Notable developments include the refinement of aaRS/tRNA pairs, enhancements in screening methods, and the biosynthesis of noncanonical amino acids. The applications of GCE technology span from synthetic biology, where it facilitates gene expression regulation and protein engineering, to medicine, with promising approaches in drug development, vaccine production, and gene editing. The review concludes with a perspective on the future of GCE, underscoring its potential to further expand the toolkit of biology and medicine. Through this comprehensive review, we aim to provide a detailed overview of the current state of GCE technology, its challenges, opportunities, and the frontier it represents in the expansion of the genetic code for novel biological research and therapeutic applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yujia Huang
- State
Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, Department of Molecular
and Cellular Pharmacology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chemical
Biology Center, Peking University, Beijing 100191, China
| | - Pan Zhang
- Shenzhen
Key Laboratory for the Intelligent Microbial Manufacturing of Medicines,
Key Laboratory of Quantitative Synthetic Biology, Center for Synthetic
Biochemistry, Shenzhen Institute of Synthetic Biology, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese
Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen 518055, P.R. China
| | - Haoyu Wang
- State
Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, Department of Molecular
and Cellular Pharmacology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chemical
Biology Center, Peking University, Beijing 100191, China
| | - Yan Chen
- Shenzhen
Key Laboratory for the Intelligent Microbial Manufacturing of Medicines,
Key Laboratory of Quantitative Synthetic Biology, Center for Synthetic
Biochemistry, Shenzhen Institute of Synthetic Biology, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese
Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen 518055, P.R. China
- University
of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, P. R. China
| | - Tao Liu
- State
Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, Department of Molecular
and Cellular Pharmacology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chemical
Biology Center, Peking University, Beijing 100191, China
| | - Xiaozhou Luo
- Shenzhen
Key Laboratory for the Intelligent Microbial Manufacturing of Medicines,
Key Laboratory of Quantitative Synthetic Biology, Center for Synthetic
Biochemistry, Shenzhen Institute of Synthetic Biology, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese
Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen 518055, P.R. China
- University
of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, P. R. China
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5
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Dakhnevich A, Kazakova A, Iliushin D, Ivanov RA. Pyrrolysine Aminoacyl-tRNA Synthetase as a Tool for Expanding the Genetic Code. Int J Mol Sci 2025; 26:539. [PMID: 39859254 PMCID: PMC11764691 DOI: 10.3390/ijms26020539] [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: 11/27/2024] [Revised: 01/04/2025] [Accepted: 01/07/2025] [Indexed: 01/27/2025] Open
Abstract
In addition to the 20 canonical amino acids encoded in the genetic code, there are two non-canonical ones: selenocysteine and pyrrolysine. The discovery of pyrrolysine synthetases (PylRSs) was a key event in the field of genetic code expansion research. The importance of this discovery is mainly due to the fact that the translation systems involving PylRS, pyrrolysine tRNA (tRNAPyl) and pyrrolysine are orthogonal to the endogenous translation systems of organisms that do not use this amino acid in protein synthesis. In addition, pyrrolysine synthetases belonging to different groups are also mutually orthogonal. This orthogonality is based on the structural features of PylRS and tRNAPyl, which include identical elements, such as a condensed core, certain base pairs and the structural motifs of tRNAPyl. This suggests that targeted structural changes in these molecules enable changes in their specificity for the amino acid and the codon. Such modifications were successfully used to obtain different aaRS/tRNA pairs that allow the incorporation of unnatural amino acids into peptides. This review presents the results of recent studies related to the correlation between the structure and activity of PylRS and tRNAPyl and the use of pyrrolysine synthetases to extend the genetic code.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Roman A. Ivanov
- Biotechnology Department, Sirius University of Science and Technology, 354349 Sirius, Russia; (A.D.); (D.I.)
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6
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Choi YN, Kim D, Lee S, Shin Y, Lee J. Quadruplet codon decoding-based versatile genetic biocontainment system. Nucleic Acids Res 2025; 53:gkae1292. [PMID: 39777466 PMCID: PMC11705086 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkae1292] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2024] [Revised: 11/22/2024] [Accepted: 12/20/2024] [Indexed: 01/11/2025] Open
Abstract
Biological resources, such as sequence information, genetic traits, materials and strains, pose risks when inadvertently released or deliberately misused. To address these concerns, we developed Quadruplet COdon DEcoding (QCODE), a versatile genetic biocontainment strategy that introduces a quadruplet codon (Q-codon) causing frameshifts, hindering proper gene expression. Strategically incorporating Q-codons in multiple genes prevents genetic trait escape, unallowed proliferation of microbial strains and unauthorized leakages of genetic materials. This multifaceted strategy, integrating Q-codons for genetic traits, materials and strains, ensures robust biocontainment across various levels. Notably, our system maintains sequence protection, safeguarding genetic sequence information against unauthorized access. The QCODE approach offers a versatile, efficient and compact solution to enhance biosecurity in diverse biological research settings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yun-Nam Choi
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH), Pohang 37673, Republic of Korea
| | - Donghyeon Kim
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH), Pohang 37673, Republic of Korea
| | - Seongbeom Lee
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH), Pohang 37673, Republic of Korea
| | - Ye Rim Shin
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH), Pohang 37673, Republic of Korea
| | - Jeong Wook Lee
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH), Pohang 37673, Republic of Korea
- School of Interdisciplinary Bioscience and Bioengineering (I-Bio), Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH), Pohang 37673, Republic of Korea
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7
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Xu B, Liu LH, Lin H, Zhang Y, Huang Y, He Q, Wang F, Wu YR, Zhang Z, Jiang A. A cell-free bacteriophage synthesis system for directed evolution. Trends Biotechnol 2025; 43:248-261. [PMID: 39462751 DOI: 10.1016/j.tibtech.2024.10.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2024] [Revised: 10/05/2024] [Accepted: 10/08/2024] [Indexed: 10/29/2024]
Abstract
Efficient phage production has always been an urgent need in fields such as drug discovery, disease treatment, and gene evolution. To meet this demand, we constructed a robust cell-free synthesis system for generating M13 phage by simplifying its genome, enabling a three-times faster efficiency compared with the traditional method in vivo. We further developed a cell-free directed evolution system in droplets, comprising a modified helper plasmid (ΔPS-ΔgIII-ΔgVI) and the simplified M13 genome-carrying gene mutation library. This system was greatly improved when coupled with fluorescence-activated droplet sorting (FADS). We successfully evolved the T7 RNA polymerase (RNAP), achieving a twofold higher activity to read through the T7 terminator. Moreover, we evolved the tryptophan tRNA into a suppressor tRNA with an eightfold increase in activity to read through the stop codon UAG.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bo Xu
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Hubei University of Science and Technology, Xianning 437100, PR China.
| | - Li-Hua Liu
- Tidetron Bioworks Technology (Guangzhou) Co., Ltd, Guangzhou Qianxiang Bioworks Co., Ltd., Guangzhou, Guangdong 510000, PR China
| | - Houliang Lin
- Tidetron Bioworks Technology (Guangzhou) Co., Ltd, Guangzhou Qianxiang Bioworks Co., Ltd., Guangzhou, Guangdong 510000, PR China
| | - Yang Zhang
- Tidetron Bioworks Technology (Guangzhou) Co., Ltd, Guangzhou Qianxiang Bioworks Co., Ltd., Guangzhou, Guangdong 510000, PR China
| | - Ying Huang
- Tidetron Bioworks Technology (Guangzhou) Co., Ltd, Guangzhou Qianxiang Bioworks Co., Ltd., Guangzhou, Guangdong 510000, PR China
| | - Qing He
- Tidetron Bioworks Technology (Guangzhou) Co., Ltd, Guangzhou Qianxiang Bioworks Co., Ltd., Guangzhou, Guangdong 510000, PR China
| | - Fan Wang
- Tidetron Bioworks Technology (Guangzhou) Co., Ltd, Guangzhou Qianxiang Bioworks Co., Ltd., Guangzhou, Guangdong 510000, PR China
| | - Yi-Rui Wu
- Tidetron Bioworks Technology (Guangzhou) Co., Ltd, Guangzhou Qianxiang Bioworks Co., Ltd., Guangzhou, Guangdong 510000, PR China
| | - Zhiqian Zhang
- Tidetron Bioworks Technology (Guangzhou) Co., Ltd, Guangzhou Qianxiang Bioworks Co., Ltd., Guangzhou, Guangdong 510000, PR China.
| | - Ao Jiang
- Tidetron Bioworks Technology (Guangzhou) Co., Ltd, Guangzhou Qianxiang Bioworks Co., Ltd., Guangzhou, Guangdong 510000, PR China.
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8
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Kim JC, Kim Y, Cho S, Park HS. Noncanonical Amino Acid Incorporation in Animals and Animal Cells. Chem Rev 2024; 124:12463-12497. [PMID: 39541258 DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemrev.3c00955] [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: 11/16/2024]
Abstract
Noncanonical amino acids (ncAAs) are synthetic building blocks that, when incorporated into proteins, confer novel functions and enable precise control over biological processes. These small yet powerful tools offer unprecedented opportunities to investigate and manipulate various complex life forms. In particular, ncAA incorporation technology has garnered significant attention in the study of animals and their constituent cells, which serve as invaluable model organisms for gaining insights into human physiology, genetics, and diseases. This review will provide a comprehensive discussion on the applications of ncAA incorporation technology in animals and animal cells, covering past achievements, current developments, and future perspectives.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joo-Chan Kim
- Department of Chemistry, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, 291 Daehak-ro, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon 34141, Republic of Korea
| | - YouJin Kim
- Department of Chemistry, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, 291 Daehak-ro, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon 34141, Republic of Korea
| | - Suho Cho
- Department of Chemistry, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, 291 Daehak-ro, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon 34141, Republic of Korea
| | - Hee-Sung Park
- Department of Chemistry, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, 291 Daehak-ro, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon 34141, Republic of Korea
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9
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Costello A, Peterson AA, Chen PH, Bagirzadeh R, Lanster DL, Badran AH. Genetic Code Expansion History and Modern Innovations. Chem Rev 2024; 124:11962-12005. [PMID: 39466033 DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemrev.4c00275] [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: 10/29/2024]
Abstract
The genetic code is the foundation for all life. With few exceptions, the translation of nucleic acid messages into proteins follows conserved rules, which are defined by codons that specify each of the 20 proteinogenic amino acids. For decades, leading research groups have developed a catalogue of innovative approaches to extend nature's amino acid repertoire to include one or more noncanonical building blocks in a single protein. In this review, we summarize advances in the history of in vitro and in vivo genetic code expansion, and highlight recent innovations that increase the scope of biochemically accessible monomers and codons. We further summarize state-of-the-art knowledge in engineered cellular translation, as well as alterations to regulatory mechanisms that improve overall genetic code expansion. Finally, we distill existing limitations of these technologies into must-have improvements for the next generation of technologies, and speculate on future strategies that may be capable of overcoming current gaps in knowledge.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alan Costello
- Department of Chemistry The Scripps Research Institute; La Jolla, California 92037, United States
- Department of Integrative Structural and Computational Biology The Scripps Research Institute; La Jolla, California 92037, United States
| | - Alexander A Peterson
- Department of Chemistry The Scripps Research Institute; La Jolla, California 92037, United States
- Department of Integrative Structural and Computational Biology The Scripps Research Institute; La Jolla, California 92037, United States
| | - Pei-Hsin Chen
- Department of Chemistry The Scripps Research Institute; La Jolla, California 92037, United States
- Department of Integrative Structural and Computational Biology The Scripps Research Institute; La Jolla, California 92037, United States
- Doctoral Program in Chemical and Biological Sciences The Scripps Research Institute; La Jolla, California 92037, United States
| | - Rustam Bagirzadeh
- Department of Chemistry The Scripps Research Institute; La Jolla, California 92037, United States
- Department of Integrative Structural and Computational Biology The Scripps Research Institute; La Jolla, California 92037, United States
| | - David L Lanster
- Department of Chemistry The Scripps Research Institute; La Jolla, California 92037, United States
- Department of Integrative Structural and Computational Biology The Scripps Research Institute; La Jolla, California 92037, United States
- Doctoral Program in Chemical and Biological Sciences The Scripps Research Institute; La Jolla, California 92037, United States
| | - Ahmed H Badran
- Department of Chemistry The Scripps Research Institute; La Jolla, California 92037, United States
- Department of Integrative Structural and Computational Biology The Scripps Research Institute; La Jolla, California 92037, United States
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10
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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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11
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Jann C, Giofré S, Bhattacharjee R, Lemke EA. Cracking the Code: Reprogramming the Genetic Script in Prokaryotes and Eukaryotes to Harness the Power of Noncanonical Amino Acids. Chem Rev 2024; 124:10281-10362. [PMID: 39120726 PMCID: PMC11441406 DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemrev.3c00878] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2023] [Revised: 06/10/2024] [Accepted: 06/27/2024] [Indexed: 08/10/2024]
Abstract
Over 500 natural and synthetic amino acids have been genetically encoded in the last two decades. Incorporating these noncanonical amino acids into proteins enables many powerful applications, ranging from basic research to biotechnology, materials science, and medicine. However, major challenges remain to unleash the full potential of genetic code expansion across disciplines. Here, we provide an overview of diverse genetic code expansion methodologies and systems and their final applications in prokaryotes and eukaryotes, represented by Escherichia coli and mammalian cells as the main workhorse model systems. We highlight the power of how new technologies can be first established in simple and then transferred to more complex systems. For example, whole-genome engineering provides an excellent platform in bacteria for enabling transcript-specific genetic code expansion without off-targets in the transcriptome. In contrast, the complexity of a eukaryotic cell poses challenges that require entirely new approaches, such as striving toward establishing novel base pairs or generating orthogonally translating organelles within living cells. We connect the milestones in expanding the genetic code of living cells for encoding novel chemical functionalities to the most recent scientific discoveries, from optimizing the physicochemical properties of noncanonical amino acids to the technological advancements for their in vivo incorporation. This journey offers a glimpse into the promising developments in the years to come.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cosimo Jann
- Biocenter, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, 55128 Mainz, Germany
- IMB
Postdoc Programme (IPPro), 55128 Mainz, Germany
| | - Sabrina Giofré
- Biocenter, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, 55128 Mainz, Germany
- IMB
Postdoc Programme (IPPro), 55128 Mainz, Germany
| | - Rajanya Bhattacharjee
- Biocenter, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, 55128 Mainz, Germany
- IMB
International PhD Programme (IPP), 55128 Mainz, Germany
| | - Edward A. Lemke
- Biocenter, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, 55128 Mainz, Germany
- Institute
of Molecular Biology (IMB), 55128 Mainz, Germany
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12
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Recoded gene circuits for multiplexed genetic code expansion. Nat Biotechnol 2024:10.1038/s41587-024-02387-w. [PMID: 39261593 DOI: 10.1038/s41587-024-02387-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/13/2024]
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13
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Costello A, Peterson AA, Lanster DL, Li Z, Carver GD, Badran AH. Efficient genetic code expansion without host genome modifications. Nat Biotechnol 2024:10.1038/s41587-024-02385-y. [PMID: 39261591 DOI: 10.1038/s41587-024-02385-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2023] [Accepted: 08/13/2024] [Indexed: 09/13/2024]
Abstract
Supplementing translation with noncanonical amino acids (ncAAs) can yield protein sequences with new-to-nature functions but existing ncAA incorporation strategies suffer from low efficiency and context dependence. We uncover codon usage as a previously unrecognized contributor to efficient genetic code expansion using non-native codons. Relying only on conventional Escherichia coli strains with native ribosomes, we develop a plasmid-based codon compression strategy that minimizes context dependence and improves ncAA incorporation at quadruplet codons. We confirm that this strategy is compatible with all known genetic code expansion resources, which allowed us to identify 12 mutually orthogonal transfer RNA (tRNA)-synthetase pairs. Enabled by these findings, we evolved and optimized five tRNA-synthetase pairs to incorporate a broad repertoire of ncAAs at orthogonal quadruplet codons. Lastly, we extend these resources to an in vivo biosynthesis platform that can readily create >100 new-to-nature peptide macrocycles bearing up to three unique ncAAs. Our approach will accelerate innovations in multiplexed genetic code expansion and the discovery of chemically diverse biomolecules.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alan Costello
- Department of Chemistry, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA, USA
- Department of Integrative Structural and Computational Biology, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Alexander A Peterson
- Department of Chemistry, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA, USA
- Department of Integrative Structural and Computational Biology, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - David L Lanster
- Department of Chemistry, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA, USA
- Department of Integrative Structural and Computational Biology, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA, USA
- Doctoral Program in Chemical and Biological Sciences, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Zhiyi Li
- Department of Chemistry, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA, USA
- Department of Integrative Structural and Computational Biology, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA, USA
- Doctoral Program in Chemical and Biological Sciences, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Gavriela D Carver
- Department of Molecular Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, USA
| | - Ahmed H Badran
- Department of Chemistry, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA, USA.
- Department of Integrative Structural and Computational Biology, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA, USA.
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14
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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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15
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Ishida S, Ngo PHT, Gundlach A, Ellington A. Engineering Ribosomal Machinery for Noncanonical Amino Acid Incorporation. Chem Rev 2024; 124:7712-7730. [PMID: 38829723 DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemrev.3c00912] [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: 06/05/2024]
Abstract
The introduction of noncanonical amino acids into proteins has enabled researchers to modify fundamental physicochemical and functional properties of proteins. While the alteration of the genetic code, via the introduction of orthogonal aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase:tRNA pairs, has driven many of these efforts, the various components involved in the process of translation are important for the development of new genetic codes. In this review, we will focus on recent advances in engineering ribosomal machinery for noncanonical amino acid incorporation and genetic code modification. The engineering of the ribosome itself will be considered, as well as the many factors that interact closely with the ribosome, including both tRNAs and accessory factors, such as the all-important EF-Tu. Given the success of genome re-engineering efforts, future paths for radical alterations of the genetic code will require more expansive alterations in the translation machinery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Satoshi Ishida
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas 78712, United States
| | - Phuoc H T Ngo
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas 78712, United States
| | - Arno Gundlach
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas 78712, United States
| | - Andrew Ellington
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas 78712, United States
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16
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Weiss JL, Decker JC, Bolano A, Krahn N. Tuning tRNAs for improved translation. Front Genet 2024; 15:1436860. [PMID: 38983271 PMCID: PMC11231383 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2024.1436860] [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: 05/22/2024] [Accepted: 06/06/2024] [Indexed: 07/11/2024] Open
Abstract
Transfer RNAs have been extensively explored as the molecules that translate the genetic code into proteins. At this interface of genetics and biochemistry, tRNAs direct the efficiency of every major step of translation by interacting with a multitude of binding partners. However, due to the variability of tRNA sequences and the abundance of diverse post-transcriptional modifications, a guidebook linking tRNA sequences to specific translational outcomes has yet to be elucidated. Here, we review substantial efforts that have collectively uncovered tRNA engineering principles that can be used as a guide for the tuning of translation fidelity. These principles have allowed for the development of basic research, expansion of the genetic code with non-canonical amino acids, and tRNA therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joshua L Weiss
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, United States
| | - J C Decker
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, United States
| | - Ariadna Bolano
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, United States
| | - Natalie Krahn
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, United States
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17
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Sigal M, Matsumoto S, Beattie A, Katoh T, Suga H. Engineering tRNAs for the Ribosomal Translation of Non-proteinogenic Monomers. Chem Rev 2024; 124:6444-6500. [PMID: 38688034 PMCID: PMC11122139 DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemrev.3c00894] [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: 12/01/2023] [Revised: 02/21/2024] [Accepted: 04/10/2024] [Indexed: 05/02/2024]
Abstract
Ribosome-dependent protein biosynthesis is an essential cellular process mediated by transfer RNAs (tRNAs). Generally, ribosomally synthesized proteins are limited to the 22 proteinogenic amino acids (pAAs: 20 l-α-amino acids present in the standard genetic code, selenocysteine, and pyrrolysine). However, engineering tRNAs for the ribosomal incorporation of non-proteinogenic monomers (npMs) as building blocks has led to the creation of unique polypeptides with broad applications in cellular biology, material science, spectroscopy, and pharmaceuticals. Ribosomal polymerization of these engineered polypeptides presents a variety of challenges for biochemists, as translation efficiency and fidelity is often insufficient when employing npMs. In this Review, we will focus on the methodologies for engineering tRNAs to overcome these issues and explore recent advances both in vitro and in vivo. These efforts include increasing orthogonality, recruiting essential translation factors, and creation of expanded genetic codes. After our review on the biochemical optimizations of tRNAs, we provide examples of their use in genetic code manipulation, with a focus on the in vitro discovery of bioactive macrocyclic peptides containing npMs. Finally, an analysis of the current state of tRNA engineering is presented, along with existing challenges and future perspectives for the field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maxwell Sigal
- Department of Chemistry,
Graduate School of Science, The University
of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan
| | - Satomi Matsumoto
- Department of Chemistry,
Graduate School of Science, The University
of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan
| | - Adam Beattie
- Department of Chemistry,
Graduate School of Science, The University
of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan
| | - Takayuki Katoh
- Department of Chemistry,
Graduate School of Science, The University
of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan
| | - Hiroaki Suga
- Department of Chemistry,
Graduate School of Science, The University
of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan
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18
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Awawdeh A, Radecki AA, Vargas-Rodriguez O. Suppressor tRNAs at the interface of genetic code expansion and medicine. Front Genet 2024; 15:1420331. [PMID: 38798701 PMCID: PMC11116698 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2024.1420331] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2024] [Accepted: 04/29/2024] [Indexed: 05/29/2024] Open
Abstract
Suppressor transfer RNAs (sup-tRNAs) are receiving renewed attention for their promising therapeutic properties in treating genetic diseases caused by nonsense mutations. Traditionally, sup-tRNAs have been created by replacing the anticodon sequence of native tRNAs with a suppressor sequence. However, due to their complex interactome, considering other structural and functional tRNA features for design and engineering can yield more effective sup-tRNA therapies. For over 2 decades, the field of genetic code expansion (GCE) has created a wealth of knowledge, resources, and tools to engineer sup-tRNAs. In this Mini Review, we aim to shed light on how existing knowledge and strategies to develop sup-tRNAs for GCE can be adopted to accelerate the discovery of efficient and specific sup-tRNAs for medical treatment options. We highlight methods and milestones and discuss how these approaches may enlighten the research and development of tRNA medicines.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Oscar Vargas-Rodriguez
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biophysics, University of Connecticut School of Medicine, Farmington, CT, United States
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19
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Butler ND, Kunjapur AM. Selective and Site-Specific Incorporation of Nonstandard Amino Acids Within Proteins for Therapeutic Applications. Methods Mol Biol 2024; 2720:35-53. [PMID: 37775656 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-3469-1_3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/01/2023]
Abstract
The incorporation of nonstandard amino acids (nsAAs) within protein sequences has broadened the chemical functionalities available for use in the study, prevention, or treatment of disease. The ability to genetically encode the introduction of nsAAs at precise sites of target recombinant proteins has enabled numerous applications such as bioorthogonal conjugation, thrombin inhibition, intrinsic biological containment of live organisms, and immunochemical termination of self-tolerance. Genetic systems that perform critical steps in enabling nsAA incorporation are known as orthogonal translation systems or orthogonal aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase/tRNA pairs. In Escherichia coli, several of these have been designed to accept novel nsAAs. Certain endogenous proteins, codon context, and standard amino acid concentrations can affect the yield of recombinant protein, the rate of nsAA incorporation within off-target proteins, and the rate of misincorporation due to near-cognate suppression or misacylation of orthogonal tRNA with standard amino acids. As a result, a significant body of work has been performed in engineering the E. coli genome to alleviate these issues. Here, we describe common methods applicable to nsAA incorporation within proteins in E. coli for sufficient purity and characterization for downstream therapeutic applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Neil D Butler
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, USA
| | - Aditya M Kunjapur
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, USA.
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20
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Anastassiadis T, Köhrer C. Ushering in the era of tRNA medicines. J Biol Chem 2023; 299:105246. [PMID: 37703991 PMCID: PMC10583094 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2023.105246] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2023] [Revised: 09/03/2023] [Accepted: 09/06/2023] [Indexed: 09/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Long viewed as an intermediary in protein translation, there is a growing awareness that tRNAs are capable of myriad other biological functions linked to human health and disease. These emerging roles could be tapped to leverage tRNAs as diagnostic biomarkers, therapeutic targets, or even as novel medicines. Furthermore, the growing array of tRNA-derived fragments, which modulate an increasingly broad spectrum of cellular pathways, is expanding this opportunity. Together, these molecules offer drug developers the chance to modulate the impact of mutations and to alter cell homeostasis. Moreover, because a single therapeutic tRNA can facilitate readthrough of a genetic mutation shared across multiple genes, such medicines afford the opportunity to define patient populations not based on their clinical presentation or mutated gene but rather on the mutation itself. This approach could potentially transform the treatment of patients with rare and ultrarare diseases. In this review, we explore the diverse biology of tRNA and its fragments, examining the past and present challenges to provide a comprehensive understanding of the molecules and their therapeutic potential.
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21
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Jewel D, Pham Q, Chatterjee A. Virus-assisted directed evolution of biomolecules. Curr Opin Chem Biol 2023; 76:102375. [PMID: 37542745 PMCID: PMC10870257 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbpa.2023.102375] [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] [Received: 03/27/2023] [Revised: 07/01/2023] [Accepted: 07/02/2023] [Indexed: 08/07/2023]
Abstract
Directed evolution is a powerful technique that uses principles of natural evolution to enable the development of biomolecules with novel functions. However, the slow pace of natural evolution does not support the demand for rapidly generating new biomolecular functions in the laboratory. Viruses offer a unique path to design fast laboratory evolution experiments, owing to their innate ability to evolve much more rapidly than most living organisms, facilitated by a smaller genome size that tolerate a high frequency of mutations, as well as a fast rate of replication. These attributes offer a great opportunity to evolve various biomolecules by linking their activity to the replication of a suitable virus. This review highlights the recent advances in the application of virus-assisted directed evolution of designer biomolecules in both prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Delilah Jewel
- Department of Chemistry, Boston College, 2609 Beacon Street, Chestnut Hill, MA 02467, USA
| | - Quan Pham
- Department of Chemistry, Boston College, 2609 Beacon Street, Chestnut Hill, MA 02467, USA
| | - Abhishek Chatterjee
- Department of Chemistry, Boston College, 2609 Beacon Street, Chestnut Hill, MA 02467, USA.
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22
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McFeely CAL, Shakya B, Makovsky CA, Haney AK, Ashton Cropp T, Hartman MCT. Extensive breaking of genetic code degeneracy with non-canonical amino acids. Nat Commun 2023; 14:5008. [PMID: 37591858 PMCID: PMC10435567 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-40529-x] [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] [Received: 11/11/2022] [Accepted: 07/26/2023] [Indexed: 08/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Genetic code expansion (GCE) offers many exciting opportunities for the creation of synthetic organisms and for drug discovery methods that utilize in vitro translation. One type of GCE, sense codon reassignment (SCR), focuses on breaking the degeneracy of the 61 sense codons which encode for only 20 amino acids. SCR has great potential for genetic code expansion, but extensive SCR is limited by the post-transcriptional modifications on tRNAs and wobble reading of these tRNAs by the ribosome. To better understand codon-tRNA pairing, here we develop an assay to evaluate the ability of aminoacyl-tRNAs to compete with each other for a given codon. We then show that hyperaccurate ribosome mutants demonstrate reduced wobble reading, and when paired with unmodified tRNAs lead to extensive and predictable SCR. Together, we encode seven distinct amino acids across nine codons spanning just two codon boxes, thereby demonstrating that the genetic code hosts far more re-assignable space than previously expected, opening the door to extensive genetic code engineering.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clinton A L McFeely
- Department of Chemistry, Virginia Commonwealth University, 1001 W Main St., Richmond, VA, 23284, USA
- Massey Cancer Center, Virginia Commonwealth University, 401 College St., Richmond, VA, 23219, USA
| | - Bipasana Shakya
- Department of Chemistry, Virginia Commonwealth University, 1001 W Main St., Richmond, VA, 23284, USA
- Massey Cancer Center, Virginia Commonwealth University, 401 College St., Richmond, VA, 23219, USA
| | - Chelsea A Makovsky
- Department of Chemistry, Virginia Commonwealth University, 1001 W Main St., Richmond, VA, 23284, USA
- Massey Cancer Center, Virginia Commonwealth University, 401 College St., Richmond, VA, 23219, USA
| | - Aidan K Haney
- Department of Chemistry, Virginia Commonwealth University, 1001 W Main St., Richmond, VA, 23284, USA
| | - T Ashton Cropp
- Department of Chemistry, Virginia Commonwealth University, 1001 W Main St., Richmond, VA, 23284, USA
| | - Matthew C T Hartman
- Department of Chemistry, Virginia Commonwealth University, 1001 W Main St., Richmond, VA, 23284, USA.
- Massey Cancer Center, Virginia Commonwealth University, 401 College St., Richmond, VA, 23219, USA.
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23
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Lahiri P, Martin MS, Lino BR, Scheck RA, Van Deventer JA. Dual Noncanonical Amino Acid Incorporation Enabling Chemoselective Protein Modification at Two Distinct Sites in Yeast. Biochemistry 2023; 62:2098-2114. [PMID: 37377426 PMCID: PMC11146674 DOI: 10.1021/acs.biochem.2c00711] [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: 06/29/2023]
Abstract
Incorporation of more than one noncanonical amino acid (ncAA) within a single protein endows the resulting construct with multiple useful features such as augmented molecular recognition or covalent cross-linking capabilities. Herein, for the first time, we demonstrate the incorporation of two chemically distinct ncAAs into proteins biosynthesized in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. To complement ncAA incorporation in response to the amber (TAG) stop codon in yeast, we evaluated opal (TGA) stop codon suppression using three distinct orthogonal translation systems. We observed selective TGA readthrough without detectable cross-reactivity from host translation components. Readthrough efficiency at TGA was modulated by factors including the local nucleotide environment, gene deletions related to the translation process, and the identity of the suppressor tRNA. These observations facilitated systematic investigation of dual ncAA incorporation in both intracellular and yeast-displayed protein constructs, where we observed efficiencies up to 6% of wild-type protein controls. The successful display of doubly substituted proteins enabled the exploration of two critical applications on the yeast surface─(A) antigen binding functionality and (B) chemoselective modification with two distinct chemical probes through sequential application of two bioorthogonal click chemistry reactions. Lastly, by utilizing a soluble form of a doubly substituted construct, we validated the dual incorporation system using mass spectrometry and demonstrated the feasibility of conducting selective labeling of the two ncAAs sequentially using a "single-pot" approach. Overall, our work facilitates the addition of a 22nd amino acid to the genetic code of yeast and expands the scope of applications of ncAAs for basic biological research and drug discovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Priyanka Lahiri
- Chemical and Biological Engineering Department, Tufts University, Medford, MA 02155, USA
| | - Meghan S. Martin
- Chemistry Department, Tufts University, Medford, Massachusetts 02155, USA
| | - Briana R. Lino
- Chemical and Biological Engineering Department, Tufts University, Medford, MA 02155, USA
| | - Rebecca A. Scheck
- Chemistry Department, Tufts University, Medford, Massachusetts 02155, USA
| | - James A. Van Deventer
- Chemical and Biological Engineering Department, Tufts University, Medford, MA 02155, USA
- Biomedical Engineering Department, Tufts University, Medford, Massachusetts 02155, USA
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24
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Gerecht K, Freund N, Liu W, Liu Y, Fürst MJLJ, Holliger P. The Expanded Central Dogma: Genome Resynthesis, Orthogonal Biosystems, Synthetic Genetics. Annu Rev Biophys 2023; 52:413-432. [PMID: 37159296 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-biophys-111622-091203] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/10/2023]
Abstract
Synthetic biology seeks to probe fundamental aspects of biological form and function by construction [i.e., (re)synthesis] rather than deconstruction (analysis). In this sense, biological sciences now follow the lead given by the chemical sciences. Synthesis can complement analytic studies but also allows novel approaches to answering fundamental biological questions and opens up vast opportunities for the exploitation of biological processes to provide solutions for global problems. In this review, we explore aspects of this synthesis paradigm as applied to the chemistry and function of nucleic acids in biological systems and beyond, specifically, in genome resynthesis, synthetic genetics (i.e., the expansion of the genetic alphabet, of the genetic code, and of the chemical make-up of genetic systems), and the elaboration of orthogonal biosystems and components.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karola Gerecht
- MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Cambridge Biomedical Campus, Cambridge, United Kingdom;
| | - Niklas Freund
- MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Cambridge Biomedical Campus, Cambridge, United Kingdom;
| | - Wei Liu
- MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Cambridge Biomedical Campus, Cambridge, United Kingdom;
| | - Yang Liu
- MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Cambridge Biomedical Campus, Cambridge, United Kingdom;
| | - Maximilian J L J Fürst
- MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Cambridge Biomedical Campus, Cambridge, United Kingdom;
- Current address: Groningen Biomolecular Sciences and Biotechnology Institute, University of Groningen, Groningen, Netherlands
| | - Philipp Holliger
- MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Cambridge Biomedical Campus, Cambridge, United Kingdom;
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25
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Hu Z, Liang J, Su T, Zhang D, Li H, Gao X, Yao W, Song X. Minimizing the Anticodon-Recognized Loop of Methanococcus jannaschii Tyrosyl-tRNA Synthetase to Improve the Efficiency of Incorporating Noncanonical Amino Acids. Biomolecules 2023; 13:biom13040610. [PMID: 37189358 DOI: 10.3390/biom13040610] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2023] [Revised: 03/23/2023] [Accepted: 03/25/2023] [Indexed: 03/31/2023] Open
Abstract
In the field of genetic code expansion (GCE), improvements in the efficiency of noncanonical amino acid (ncAA) incorporation have received continuous attention. By analyzing the reported gene sequences of giant virus species, we noticed some sequence differences at the tRNA binding interface. On the basis of the structural and activity differences between Methanococcus jannaschii Tyrosyl-tRNA Synthetase (MjTyrRS) and mimivirus Tyrosyl-tRNA Synthetase (MVTyrRS), we found that the size of the anticodon-recognized loop of MjTyrRS influences its suppression activity regarding triplet and specific quadruplet codons. Therefore, three MjTyrRS mutants with loop minimization were designed. The suppression of wild-type MjTyrRS loop-minimized mutants increased by 1.8–4.3-fold, and the MjTyrRS variants enhanced the activity of the incorporation of ncAAs by 15–150% through loop minimization. In addition, for specific quadruplet codons, the loop minimization of MjTyrRS also improves the suppression efficiency. These results suggest that loop minimization of MjTyrRS may provide a general strategy for the efficient synthesis of ncAAs-containing proteins.
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26
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Mohanta TK, Mohanta YK, Sharma N. Anticodon table of the chloroplast genome and identification of putative quadruplet anticodons in chloroplast tRNAs. Sci Rep 2023; 13:760. [PMID: 36641535 PMCID: PMC9840617 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-27886-9] [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: 07/01/2022] [Accepted: 01/10/2023] [Indexed: 01/16/2023] Open
Abstract
The chloroplast genome of 5959 species was analyzed to construct the anticodon table of the chloroplast genome. Analysis of the chloroplast transfer ribonucleic acid (tRNA) revealed the presence of a putative quadruplet anticodon containing tRNAs in the chloroplast genome. The tRNAs with putative quadruplet anticodons were UAUG, UGGG, AUAA, GCUA, and GUUA, where the GUUA anticodon putatively encoded tRNAAsn. The study also revealed the complete absence of tRNA genes containing ACU, CUG, GCG, CUC, CCC, and CGG anticodons in the chloroplast genome from the species studied so far. The chloroplast genome was also found to encode tRNAs encoding N-formylmethionine (fMet), Ile2, selenocysteine, and pyrrolysine. The chloroplast genomes of mycoparasitic and heterotrophic plants have had heavy losses of tRNA genes. Furthermore, the chloroplast genome was also found to encode putative spacer tRNA, tRNA fragments (tRFs), tRNA-derived, stress-induced RNA (tiRNAs), and the group I introns. An evolutionary analysis revealed that chloroplast tRNAs had evolved via multiple common ancestors and the GC% had more influence toward encoding the tRNA number in the chloroplast genome than the genome size.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tapan Kumar Mohanta
- Natural and Medical Sciences Research Center, University of Nizwa, 616, Nizwa, Oman.
| | - Yugal Kishore Mohanta
- Department of Applied Biology, School of Biological Sciences, University of Science and Technology Meghalaya, Baridua, Meghalaya, 793101, India
| | - Nanaocha Sharma
- Institute of Bioresources and Sustainable Development, Imphal, Manipur, 795001, India.
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27
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McFeely CAL, Dods KK, Patel SS, Hartman MCT. Expansion of the genetic code through reassignment of redundant sense codons using fully modified tRNA. Nucleic Acids Res 2022; 50:11374-11386. [PMID: 36300637 PMCID: PMC9638912 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkac846] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2022] [Revised: 09/09/2022] [Accepted: 09/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Breaking codon degeneracy for the introduction of non-canonical amino acids offers many opportunities in synthetic biology. Yet, despite the existence of 64 codons, the code has only been expanded to 25 amino acids in vitro. A limiting factor could be the over-reliance on synthetic tRNAs which lack the post-transcriptional modifications that improve translational fidelity. To determine whether modified, wild-type tRNA could improve sense codon reassignment, we developed a new fluorous method for tRNA capture and applied it to the isolation of roughly half of the Escherichia coli tRNA isoacceptors. We then performed codon competition experiments between the five captured wild-type leucyl-tRNAs and their synthetic counterparts, revealing a strong preference for wild-type tRNA in an in vitro translation system. Finally, we compared the ability of wild-type and synthetic leucyl-tRNA to break the degeneracy of the leucine codon box, showing that only captured wild-type tRNAs are discriminated with enough fidelity to accurately split the leucine codon box for the encoding of three separate amino acids. Wild-type tRNAs are therefore enabling reagents for maximizing the reassignment potential of the genetic code.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clinton A L McFeely
- Department of Chemistry, Virginia Commonwealth University , Richmond, VA 23220 , USA
- Massey Cancer Center, Virginia Commonwealth University , Richmond, VA 23220 , USA
| | - Kara K Dods
- Department of Chemistry, Virginia Commonwealth University , Richmond, VA 23220 , USA
- Massey Cancer Center, Virginia Commonwealth University , Richmond, VA 23220 , USA
| | - Shivam S Patel
- Department of Chemistry, Virginia Commonwealth University , Richmond, VA 23220 , USA
| | - Matthew C T Hartman
- Department of Chemistry, Virginia Commonwealth University , Richmond, VA 23220 , USA
- Massey Cancer Center, Virginia Commonwealth University , Richmond, VA 23220 , USA
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28
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Allen GL, Grahn AK, Kourentzi K, Willson RC, Waldrop S, Guo J, Kay BK. Expanding the chemical diversity of M13 bacteriophage. Front Microbiol 2022; 13:961093. [PMID: 36003937 PMCID: PMC9393631 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.961093] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2022] [Accepted: 07/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Bacteriophage M13 virions are very stable nanoparticles that can be modified by chemical and genetic methods. The capsid proteins can be functionalized in a variety of chemical reactions without loss of particle integrity. In addition, Genetic Code Expansion (GCE) permits the introduction of non-canonical amino acids (ncAAs) into displayed peptides and proteins. The incorporation of ncAAs into phage libraries has led to the discovery of high-affinity binders with low nanomolar dissociation constant (K D) values that can potentially serve as inhibitors. This article reviews how bioconjugation and the incorporation of ncAAs during translation have expanded the chemistry of peptides and proteins displayed by M13 virions for a variety of purposes.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Katerina Kourentzi
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Houston, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Richard C. Willson
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Houston, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Sean Waldrop
- Department of Chemistry, University of Nebraska at Lincoln, Lincoln, NE, United States
| | - Jiantao Guo
- Department of Chemistry, University of Nebraska at Lincoln, Lincoln, NE, United States
| | - Brian K. Kay
- Tango Biosciences, Inc., Chicago, IL, United States
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29
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Prabhakar A, Krahn N, Zhang J, Vargas-Rodriguez O, Krupkin M, Fu Z, Acosta-Reyes FJ, Ge X, Choi J, Crnković A, Ehrenberg M, Puglisi EV, Söll D, Puglisi J. Uncovering translation roadblocks during the development of a synthetic tRNA. Nucleic Acids Res 2022; 50:10201-10211. [PMID: 35882385 PMCID: PMC9561287 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkac576] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2022] [Revised: 06/14/2022] [Accepted: 07/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Ribosomes are remarkable in their malleability to accept diverse aminoacyl-tRNA substrates from both the same organism and other organisms or domains of life. This is a critical feature of the ribosome that allows the use of orthogonal translation systems for genetic code expansion. Optimization of these orthogonal translation systems generally involves focusing on the compatibility of the tRNA, aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase, and a non-canonical amino acid with each other. As we expand the diversity of tRNAs used to include non-canonical structures, the question arises as to the tRNA suitability on the ribosome. Specifically, we investigated the ribosomal translation of allo-tRNAUTu1, a uniquely shaped (9/3) tRNA exploited for site-specific selenocysteine insertion, using single-molecule fluorescence. With this technique we identified ribosomal disassembly occurring from translocation of allo-tRNAUTu1 from the A to the P site. Using cryo-EM to capture the tRNA on the ribosome, we pinpointed a distinct tertiary interaction preventing fluid translocation. Through a single nucleotide mutation, we disrupted this tertiary interaction and relieved the translation roadblock. With the continued diversification of genetic code expansion, our work highlights a targeted approach to optimize translation by distinct tRNAs as they move through the ribosome.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Oscar Vargas-Rodriguez
- Department of Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06511, USA
| | - Miri Krupkin
- Department of Structural Biology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305-5126, USA
| | - Ziao Fu
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Francisco J Acosta-Reyes
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Xueliang Ge
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Uppsala University, Uppsala 751 24, Sweden
| | - Junhong Choi
- Department of Structural Biology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305-5126, USA
| | - Ana Crnković
- Department of Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06511, USA
| | - Måns Ehrenberg
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Uppsala University, Uppsala 751 24, Sweden
| | | | - Dieter Söll
- Correspondence may also be addressed to Dieter Söll.
| | - Joseph Puglisi
- To whom correspondence should be addressed. Tel: +1 650 498 4397;
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30
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Shakya B, Joyner OG, Hartman MCT. Hyperaccurate Ribosomes for Improved Genetic Code Reprogramming. ACS Synth Biol 2022; 11:2193-2201. [PMID: 35549158 PMCID: PMC10100576 DOI: 10.1021/acssynbio.2c00150] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
The reprogramming of the genetic code through the introduction of noncanonical amino acids (ncAAs) has enabled exciting advances in synthetic biology and peptide drug discovery. Ribosomes that function with high efficiency and fidelity are necessary for all of these efforts, but for challenging ncAAs, the competing processes of near-cognate readthrough and peptidyl-tRNA dropoff can be issues. Here we uncover the surprising extent of these competing pathways in the PURE translation system using mRNAs encoding peptides with affinity tags at the N- and C-termini. We also show that hyperaccurate or error restrictive ribosomes with mutations in ribosomal protein S12 lead to significant improvements in yield and fidelity in the context of both canonical AAs and a challenging α,α-disubstituted ncAA. Hyperaccurate ribosomes also improve yields for quadruplet codon readthrough for a tRNA containing an expanded anticodon stem-loop, although they are not able to eliminate triplet codon reading by this tRNA. The impressive improvements in fidelity and the simplicity of introducing this mutation alongside other efforts to engineer the translation apparatus make hyperaccurate ribosomes an important advance for synthetic biology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bipasana Shakya
- Department of Chemistry, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia 23220, United States
- Massey Cancer Center, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia 23220, United States
| | - Olivia G. Joyner
- Department of Chemistry, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia 23220, United States
- Massey Cancer Center, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia 23220, United States
| | - Matthew C. T. Hartman
- Department of Chemistry, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia 23220, United States
- Massey Cancer Center, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia 23220, United States
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31
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Siddika T, Heinemann IU, O'Donoghue P. Expanding codon size. eLife 2022; 11:78869. [PMID: 35543705 PMCID: PMC9094744 DOI: 10.7554/elife.78869] [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] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Engineering transfer RNAs to read codons consisting of four bases requires changes in tRNA that go beyond the anticodon sequence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tarana Siddika
- Department of Biochemistry, The University of Western Ontario, London, Canada
| | - Ilka U Heinemann
- Department of Biochemistry, The University of Western Ontario, London, Canada
| | - Patrick O'Donoghue
- Department of Biochemistry, Department of Chemistry, The University of Western Ontario, London, Canada
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32
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DeBenedictis EA, Söll D, Esvelt KM. Measuring the tolerance of the genetic code to altered codon size. eLife 2022; 11:76941. [PMID: 35293861 PMCID: PMC9094753 DOI: 10.7554/elife.76941] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2022] [Accepted: 03/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Translation using four-base codons occurs in both natural and synthetic systems. What constraints contributed to the universal adoption of a triplet codon, rather than quadruplet codon, genetic code? Here, we investigate the tolerance of the Escherichia coli genetic code to tRNA mutations that increase codon size. We found that tRNAs from all 20 canonical isoacceptor classes can be converted to functional quadruplet tRNAs (qtRNAs). Many of these selectively incorporate a single amino acid in response to a specified four-base codon, as confirmed with mass spectrometry. However, efficient quadruplet codon translation often requires multiple tRNA mutations. Moreover, while tRNAs were largely amenable to quadruplet conversion, only nine of the twenty aminoacyl tRNA synthetases tolerate quadruplet anticodons. These may constitute a functional and mutually orthogonal set, but one that sharply limits the chemical alphabet available to a nascent all-quadruplet code. Our results suggest that the triplet codon code was selected because it is simpler and sufficient, not because a quadruplet codon code is unachievable. These data provide a blueprint for synthetic biologists to deliberately engineer an all-quadruplet expanded genetic code.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erika Alden DeBenedictis
- Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institue of Technology, Cambridge, United States
| | - Dieter Söll
- Department of Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry, Yale University, New Haven, United States
| | - Kevin M Esvelt
- Department of Media Arts and Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, United States
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33
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McLure RJ, Radford SE, Brockwell DJ. High-throughput directed evolution: a golden era for protein science. TRENDS IN CHEMISTRY 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.trechm.2022.02.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
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34
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Gamper H, Masuda I, Hou YM. Genome Expansion by tRNA +1 Frameshifting at Quadruplet Codons. J Mol Biol 2022; 434:167440. [PMID: 34995554 PMCID: PMC9643101 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmb.2021.167440] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2021] [Revised: 12/27/2021] [Accepted: 12/30/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Inducing tRNA +1 frameshifting to read a quadruplet codon has the potential to incorporate a non-canonical amino acid (ncAA) into the polypeptide chain. While this strategy is attractive for genome expansion in biotechnology and bioengineering endeavors, improving the yield is hampered by a lack of understanding of where the shift can occur in an elongation cycle of protein synthesis. Lacking a clear answer to this question, current efforts have focused on designing +1-frameshifting tRNAs with an extra nucleotide inserted to the anticodon loop for pairing with a quadruplet codon in the aminoacyl-tRNA binding (A) site of the ribosome. However, the designed and evolved +1-frameshifting tRNAs vary broadly in achieving successful genome expansion. Here we summarize recent work on +1-frameshifting tRNAs. We suggest that, rather than engineering the quadruplet anticodon-codon pairing scheme at the ribosome A site, efforts should be made to engineer the pairing scheme at steps after the A site, including the step of the subsequent translocation and the step that stabilizes the pairing scheme in the +1-frame in the peptidyl-tRNA binding (P) site.
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Affiliation(s)
- Howard Gamper
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, USA
| | - Isao Masuda
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, USA
| | - Ya-Ming Hou
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, USA.
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35
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DeBenedictis EA, Chory EJ, Gretton DW, Wang B, Golas S, Esvelt KM. Systematic molecular evolution enables robust biomolecule discovery. Nat Methods 2022; 19:55-64. [PMID: 34969982 PMCID: PMC11655129 DOI: 10.1038/s41592-021-01348-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2020] [Accepted: 11/09/2021] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Evolution occurs when selective pressures from the environment shape inherited variation over time. Within the laboratory, evolution is commonly used to engineer proteins and RNA, but experimental constraints have limited the ability to reproducibly and reliably explore factors such as population diversity, the timing of environmental changes and chance on outcomes. We developed a robotic system termed phage- and robotics-assisted near-continuous evolution (PRANCE) to comprehensively explore biomolecular evolution by performing phage-assisted continuous evolution in high-throughput. PRANCE implements an automated feedback control system that adjusts the stringency of selection in response to real-time measurements of each molecular activity. In evolving three distinct types of biomolecule, we find that evolution is reproducibly altered by both random chance and the historical pattern of environmental changes. This work improves the reliability of protein engineering and enables the systematic analysis of the historical, environmental and random factors governing biomolecular evolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erika A DeBenedictis
- Media Laboratory, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA.
- Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA.
| | - Emma J Chory
- Media Laboratory, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Institute for Medical Engineering and Science, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Dana W Gretton
- Media Laboratory, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Brian Wang
- Media Laboratory, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Stefan Golas
- Media Laboratory, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Kevin M Esvelt
- Media Laboratory, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA.
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