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영어

Our group has identified twenty-first aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase-suppressor tRNA pairs for
possible use in site-specific incorporation of amino acid analogues into proteins in eukaryotes (E. coli GlnRS/E. coli tRNAGln, or Human initiator tRNA derivates, Kowal et. al., 1998 and Drabkin
et. al., 1996). My research goal is to identify GlnRS mutants that can utilize the keto-containing
glutamine analogue 2-amino-5-ketohexanoic acid (wherein amide amine group of glutamine is
replaced by methyl group). The ketone group can undergo a variety of reactions including
addition, aldol, and transamination reactions. It reacts with hydrazides, alkoxyamines, and
semicarbazides under aqueous, mild conditions to produce hydrazone, oxime, and semicarbazone linkages that are stable under physiological conditions (Wang and Schultz, 2005). This important functional group is absent from the side chains of the common amino acids. To genetically encode this functional group in yeast in the form of 2-amino-5-ketohexanoic acid, I am working on isolation of GlnRS mutants.