Prolegomena to future experimental efforts on genetic code engineering by expanding its amino acid repertoire

被引:200
作者
Budisa, N [1 ]
机构
[1] Max Planck Inst Biochem, Jr Res Grp Mol Biotechnol, D-82152 Martinsried, Germany
关键词
amino acids; biosynthesis; evolution; genetic code; proteins;
D O I
10.1002/anie.200300646
中图分类号
O6 [化学];
学科分类号
0703 ;
摘要
Protein synthesis and its relation to the genetic code was for a long time a central issue in biology. Rapid experimental progress throughout the past decade, crowned with the recently elucidated ribosomal structures, provided an almost complete description of this process. In addition important experiments provided solid evidence that the natural protein translation machinery can be reprogrammed to encode genetically a vast number of non-coded (i.e. noncanonical) amino acids. Indeed, in the set of 20 canonical amino acids as prescribed by the universal genetic code, many desirable functionalities, such as halogeno, keto, cyano, azido, nitroso, nitro, and silyl groups, as well as C=C or C≡C bonds, are absent. The ability to encode genetically such chemical diversity will enable us to reprogram living cells, such as bacteria, to express tailor-made proteins exhibiting functional diversity. Accordingly, genetic code engineering has developed into an exciting emerging research field at the interface of biology, chemistry, and physics.
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页码:6426 / 6463
页数:38
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