Engineered triply orthogonal pyrrolysyl-tRNA synthetase/tRNA pairs enable the genetic encoding of three distinct non-canonical amino acids

Nat Chem. 2020 Jun;12(6):535-544. doi: 10.1038/s41557-020-0472-x. Epub 2020 May 29.

Abstract

Expanding and reprogramming the genetic code of cells for the incorporation of multiple distinct non-canonical amino acids (ncAAs), and the encoded biosynthesis of non-canonical biopolymers, requires the discovery of multiple orthogonal aminoacyl-transfer RNA synthetase/tRNA pairs. These pairs must be orthogonal to both the host synthetases and tRNAs and to each other. Pyrrolysyl-tRNA synthetase (PylRS)/PyltRNA pairs are the most widely used system for genetic code expansion. Here, we reveal that the sequences of ΔNPylRS/ΔNPyltRNA pairs (which lack N-terminal domains) form two distinct classes. We show that the measured specificities of the ΔNPylRSs and ΔNPyltRNAs correlate with sequence-based clustering, and most ΔNPylRSs preferentially function with ΔNPyltRNAs from their class. We then identify 18 mutually orthogonal pairs from the 88 ΔNPylRS/ΔNPyltRNA combinations tested. Moreover, we generate a set of 12 triply orthogonal pairs, each composed of three new PylRS/PyltRNA pairs. Finally, we diverge the ncAA specificity and decoding properties of each pair, within a triply orthogonal set, and direct the incorporation of three distinct non-canonical amino acids into a single polypeptide.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acids / chemistry
  • Amino Acids / genetics*
  • Amino Acyl-tRNA Synthetases / chemistry*
  • Amino Acyl-tRNA Synthetases / genetics*
  • Directed Molecular Evolution
  • Escherichia coli / genetics
  • Euryarchaeota / genetics
  • Genetic Code*
  • Green Fluorescent Proteins / genetics
  • Lysine / analogs & derivatives
  • Lysine / chemistry
  • Lysine / genetics
  • Models, Molecular
  • RNA, Transfer / chemistry
  • RNA, Transfer / genetics*
  • Sequence Analysis, Protein
  • Substrate Specificity

Substances

  • Amino Acids
  • Green Fluorescent Proteins
  • RNA, Transfer
  • Amino Acyl-tRNA Synthetases
  • pyrrolysine
  • Lysine