Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

  • News & Views
  • Published:

Synthetic biology

Tailor-made genetic codes

Expanding the range of amino acids polymerizable by ribosomes could enable new functionalities to be added to polypeptides. Now, the genetic code has been reprogrammed using a reconstituted in vitro translation system to enable synthesis of unnatural peptides with unmatched flexibility.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Access options

Buy this article

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

Figure 1: Reprogramming the genetic code.

References

  1. Zaher, H. S. & Green, R. Cell 136, 746–762 (2009).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. O'Donoghue, P., Ling, J., Wang, Y. S. & Soll, D. Nature Chem. Biol. 9, 594–598 (2013).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Forster, A. C. et al. Proc. Natl Acad. Sci. USA 100, 6353–6357 (2003).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Davis, L. & Chin, J. W. Nature Rev. Mol. Cell Biol. 13, 168–182 (2012).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Liu, C. C. & Schultz, P. G. Annu. Rev. Biochem. 79, 413–444 (2010).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Lepthien, S., Merkel, L. & Budisa, N. Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 49, 5446–5450 (2010).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Lajoie, M. J. et al. Science 342, 357–360 (2013).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Nirenberg, M. Trends Biochem. Sci. 29, 46–54 (2004).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Shimizu, Y., Kanamori, T. & Ueda, T. Methods 36, 299–304 (2005).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Iwane, Y. et al. Nature Chem. 8, 317–325 (2016).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding authors

Correspondence to Michael C. Jewett or Vincent Noireaux.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Jewett, M., Noireaux, V. Tailor-made genetic codes. Nature Chem 8, 291–292 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1038/nchem.2484

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/nchem.2484

Search

Quick links

Nature Briefing: Translational Research

Sign up for the Nature Briefing: Translational Research newsletter — top stories in biotechnology, drug discovery and pharma.

Get what matters in translational research, free to your inbox weekly. Sign up for Nature Briefing: Translational Research