Protein translation is the ultimate paradigm for sequence-defined polymer synthesis. To introduce non-canonical monomers into the genetic code of living organisms, pairs of biomolecules known as aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases (aaRSs) and transfer RNAs (tRNAs) are required. The discovery and engineering of five such pairs, that do not interfere with each other or the aaRS–tRNA pairs of a bacterial host, sets the stage for highly modified genetically encoded biopolymers.
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References
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This is a summary of: Beattie, A. T. et al. Quintuply orthogonal pyrrolysyl-tRNA synthetase/tRNAPyl pairs Nat. Chem. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41557-023-01232-y (2023).
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Five mutually orthogonal aaRS–tRNA pairs for genetic code expansion. Nat. Chem. 15, 903–904 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41557-023-01262-6
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41557-023-01262-6