Hacking the genetic code of mammalian cells.
A genetic shuttle: The highlighted article, which was recently published by Schultz, Geierstanger and co-workers, describes a straightforward scheme for enlarging the genetic code of mammalian cells. An orthogonal tRNA/aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase pair specific for a new amino acid can be evolved in E. coli and subsequently transferred into mammalian cells. The feasibility of this approach was demonstrated by adding a photocaged lysine derivative to the genetic repertoire of a human cell line.
Schwarzer
Dirk
D
Section for Chemical Biology, Leibniz-Institut für Molekulare Pharmakologie, Robert-Rössle-Strasse 10, Berlin, Germany. schwarzer@fmp-berlin.de
D000596:Amino Acids / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D000604:Amino Acyl-tRNA Synthetases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D002460:Cell Line; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics; D005815:Genetic Code; D006801:Humans; D008239:Lysine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
D000596:Amino Acids; D000604:Amino Acyl-tRNA Synthetases; C456839:pyrrolysine; D008239:Lysine