Engineering topics
Schultz, Peter G.
Publications and source records attributed to Schultz, Peter G..
An orthogonal seryl-tRNA synthetase/tRNA pair for noncanonical amino acid mutagenesis in Escherichia coli
Abstract not provided
Engineering yeast endosymbionts as a step toward the evolution of mitochondria
It has been hypothesized that mitochondria evolved from a bacterial ancestor that initially became established in an archaeal host cell as an endosymbiont. Here we model this first stage of mitochondrial evolution by engineering endosymbiosis between Escherichia coli and Saccharomyces cerevisiae . An ADP/ATP translocase-expressing E. coli provided ATP to a respiration-deficient cox2 yeast mutant and enabled growth of a yeast– E. coli chimera on a nonfermentable carbon source. In a reciprocal fashion, yeast provided thiamin to an endosymbiotic E. coli thiamin auxotroph. Expression of several SNARE-like proteins in E. coli was also required, likely to block lysosomal degradation of intracellular bacteria. This chimeric system was stable for more than 40 doublings, and GFP-expressing E. coli endosymbionts could be observed in the yeast by fluorescence microscopy and X-ray tomography. This readily manipulated system should allow experimental delineation of host–endosymbiont adaptations that occurred during evolution of the current, highly reduced mitochondrial genome.
Unnatural reactive amino acid genetic code additions
This invention provides compositions and methods for producing translational components that expand the number of genetically encoded amino acids in eukaryotic cells. The components include orthogonal tRNAs, orthogonal aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases, orthogonal pairs of tRNAs/synthetases and unnatural amino acids. Proteins and methods of producing proteins with unnatural amino acids in eukaryotic cells are also provided.
Site-specific incorporation of redox active amino acids into proteins
Compositions and methods of producing components of protein biosynthetic machinery that include orthogonal tRNAs, orthogonal aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases, and orthogonal pairs of tRNAs/synthetases, which incorporate redox active amino acids into proteins are provided. Methods for identifying these orthogonal pairs are also provided along with methods of producing proteins with redox active amino acids using these orthogonal pairs.
In vivo unnatural amino acid expression in the methylotrophic yeast Pichia pastoris
The invention provides orthogonal translation systems for the production of polypeptides comprising unnatural amino acids in methylotrophic yeast such as Pichia pastoris. Methods for producing polypeptides comprising unnatural amino acids in methylotrophic yeast such as Pichia pastoris are also provided.
Genetically encoding phosphotyrosine and its nonhydrolyzable analog in bacteria
Abstract not provided
Generation of an Orthogonal Protein–Protein Interface with a Noncanonical Amino Acid
Not provided.
Expanding the eukaryotic genetic code
This invention provides compositions and methods for producing translational components that expand the number of genetically encoded amino acids in eukaryotic cells. The components include orthogonal tRNAs, orthogonal aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases, orthogonal pairs of tRNAs/synthetases and unnatural amino acids. Proteins and methods of producing proteins with unnatural amino acids in eukaryotic cells are also provided.
Genetic Incorporation of a Reactive Isothiocyanate Group into Proteins
Abstract Methods for the site‐specific modification of proteins are useful for introducing biological probes into proteins and engineering proteins with novel activities. Herein, we genetically encode a novel noncanonical amino acid (ncAA) that contains an aryl isothiocyanate group which can form stable thiourea crosslinks with amines under mild conditions. We show that this ncAA (pNCSF) allows the selective conjugation of proteins to amine‐containing molecular probes through formation of a thiourea bridge. pNCSF was also used to replace a native salt bridge in myoglobin with an intramolecular crosslink to a proximal Lys residue, leading to increased thermal stability. Finally, we show that pNCSF can form stable intermolecular crosslinks between two interacting proteins.
Genetic Incorporation of a Reactive Isothiocyanate Group into Proteins
Abstract Methods for the site‐specific modification of proteins are useful for introducing biological probes into proteins and engineering proteins with novel activities. Herein, we genetically encode a novel noncanonical amino acid (ncAA) that contains an aryl isothiocyanate group which can form stable thiourea crosslinks with amines under mild conditions. We show that this ncAA (pNCSF) allows the selective conjugation of proteins to amine‐containing molecular probes through formation of a thiourea bridge. pNCSF was also used to replace a native salt bridge in myoglobin with an intramolecular crosslink to a proximal Lys residue, leading to increased thermal stability. Finally, we show that pNCSF can form stable intermolecular crosslinks between two interacting proteins.
Enhancing protein stability with extended disulfide bonds
Significance This work describes a facile system for incorporating noncanonical amino acids containing long side-chain thiols using an expanded genetic code. These amino acids begin to overcome the distance and geometric constraints of the cysteine disulfide and can pair with cysteines to cross-link more remote sites in proteins. To demonstrate this notion, we constructed a library of random β-lactamase mutants containing these noncanonical amino acids and grew them at nonpermissive temperatures. We identified a mutant enzyme that is cross-linked by one such extended disulfide bond that has significantly enhanced thermal stability. This study suggests that an expanded set of amino acid building blocks can provide novel solutions to evolutionary challenges.
Methods and compositions for the production of orthogonal tRNA-aminoacyl tRNA synthetase pairs
This invention provides compositions and methods for generating components of protein biosynthetic machinery including orthogonal tRNAs, orthogonal aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases, and orthogonal pairs of tRNAs/synthetases. Methods for identifying orthogonal pairs are also provided. These components can be used to incorporate unnatural amino acids into proteins in vivo.
Production of carrier-peptide conjugates using chemically reactive unnatural amino acids
Provided are methods of making carrier polypeptide that include incorporating a first unnatural amino acid into a carrier polypeptide variant, incorporating a second unnatural amino acid into a target polypeptide variant, and reacting the first and second unnatural amino acids to produce the conjugate. Conjugates produced using the provided methods are also provided. In addition, orthogonal translation systems in methylotrophic yeast and methods of using these systems to produce carrier and target polypeptide variants comprising unnatural amino acids are provided.
Orthogonal translation components for the in vivo incorporation of unnatural amino acids
The invention relates to orthogonal pairs of tRNAs and aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase that can incorporate unnatural amino acid into proteins produced in eubacterial host cells such as E. coli, or in a eukaryotic host such as a yeast cell. The invention provides, for example but not limited to, novel orthogonal synthetases, methods for identifying and making the novel synthetases, methods for producing proteins containing unnatural amino acids, and translation systems.
Exploring the potential impact of an expanded genetic code on protein function
Significance We describe a general strategy that begins to allow us to address the question of whether an expanded genetic code provides an evolutionary advantage to an organism. A large library of β-lactamase variants with distinct noncanonical amino acids substituted randomly at single sites throughout the protein was generated and then subjected to an antibiotic growth-based screen to identify mutants with enhanced catalytic activity. We show that a unique noncanonical mutation in the enzyme β-lactamase significantly increases catalytic activity by unexpected mechanisms. These effects cannot be recapitulated by other canonical amino acids at this site, suggesting that an expanded set of building blocks beyond the canonical 20 may offer unique solutions to organisms in the evolution of new functions.