Genetic Code Expansion Facilitates Position-Selective Modification of Nucleic Acids and Proteins

Area of Science:

• Biochemistry
• Molecular Biology
• Synthetic Biology

Background:

• The genetic code, comprising four nucleobases and 21 amino acids, governs transcription and translation.
• Engineering these processes allows for the incorporation of non-natural building blocks into nucleic acids and proteins.
• This expands the toolbox for structural and functional analyses of biomolecules.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review common methods for site-selective labeling of nucleic acids and proteins.
• To highlight how genetic code expansion facilitates the use of modifiable building blocks and spectroscopic probes.
• To discuss adaptations for modifications during and after biomolecule synthesis.

Main Methods:

• Review of established genetic code expansion methodologies.
• Analysis of techniques for site-selective incorporation of unnatural amino acids and nucleobases.
• Examination of strategies for post-synthesis modification and probe attachment.

Main Results:

• Genetic code expansion provides versatile approaches for biomolecule labeling.
• Site-selective modifications enable diverse structural and functional investigations.
• Adaptable methods facilitate labeling during synthesis and post-synthesis.

Conclusions:

• Genetic code expansion is a powerful strategy for creating modified nucleic acids and proteins.
• These modifications are crucial for advanced spectroscopic analyses and understanding biomolecular function.
• The reviewed methods offer flexibility for diverse research applications.