Four-base codon-mediated incorporation of non-natural amino acids into proteins in a eukaryotic cell-free translation system

J Biosci Bioeng. 2005 May;99(5):473-6. doi: 10.1263/jbb.99.473.

Abstract

Various four-base codons have been shown to work for the introduction of non-natural amino acids into proteins in an Escherichia coli cell-free translation system. Here, a four-base codon-mediated non-natural mutagenesis was applied to a eukaryotic rabbit reticulocyte cell-free translation system. Mutated streptavidin mRNAs containing four-base codons were prepared and added to a rabbit reticulocyte lysate in the presence of tRNAs that were aminoacylated with a non-natural amino acid and had the corresponding four-base anticodons. A Western blot analysis of translation products indicated that the four-base codons CGGU, CGCU, CCCU, CUCU, CUAU, and GGGU were efficiently decoded by the aminoacyl-tRNAs having the corresponding four-base anticodons. In contrast, the four-base codons AGGU, AGAU, CGAU, UUGU, UCGU, and ACGU were not decoded. The stop codon-derived four-base codons UAGU, UAAU, and UGAU were found to be inefficient, whereas the amber codon UAG and opal codon UGA were efficient for the incorporation of non-natural amino acids. The application of the expanded genetic code in a eukaryotic cell-free system opens the possibility of a four-base codon-mediated incorporation of non-natural amino acids into proteins in living eukaryotic cells.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acids / genetics*
  • Amino Acids / metabolism*
  • Animals
  • Base Sequence
  • Cell-Free System / metabolism
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Codon / genetics*
  • Eukaryotic Cells
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Protein Biosynthesis / genetics
  • Protein Modification, Translational / genetics*
  • Proteins / genetics*
  • Proteins / metabolism*
  • Rabbits
  • Reticulocytes / physiology*

Substances

  • Amino Acids
  • Codon
  • Proteins