Chemical synthetic biology

Area of Science:

• Biochemistry
• Synthetic Biology
• Origin of Life Studies

Background:

• Synthetic biology (SB) typically employs genetic manipulation of existing organisms.
• Chemical synthetic biology (CSB) utilizes chemical synthesis to create non-natural biological structures.
• A key question in CSB is understanding evolutionary choices by synthesizing alternatives.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the principles and applications of chemical synthetic biology.
• To investigate alternative biochemical structures not found in nature.
• To understand the constraints and rationale behind natural biological evolution.

Main Methods:

• Chemical synthesis of modified nucleic acids (e.g., pyranose-based) and proteins (reduced amino acid alphabets).
• Development of 'never born proteins' (NBP) and 'never born RNA' (NBRNA).
• Construction of semi-synthetic minimal cells capable of basic biological functions.

Main Results:

• Demonstration of synthesizing alternative biomolecules with altered backbones or components.
• Advancement in creating novel proteins and RNA molecules outside natural constraints.
• Progress towards building functional minimal cells from synthetic and natural components.

Conclusions:

• CSB offers a powerful approach to probe evolutionary questions by creating non-natural biological systems.
• The synthesis of alternative structures provides insights into why natural biological systems evolved as they did.
• CSB research, including minimal cell projects, expands the possibilities of biological design and function.