Translation initiation by using various N-acylaminoacyl tRNAs

Nucleic Acids Symp Ser (Oxf). 2006:(50):293-4. doi: 10.1093/nass/nrl146.

Abstract

Bioactive peptides isolated from natural sources have diverse acyl groups on the N-terminus. It is difficult to synthesize these peptides in vitro translation system because ribosomal peptide synthesis generally limits the N-terminal group to be N-formylmethionine (fMet). To overcome this restriction, we developed a novel methodology for the ribosomal synthesis of peptides having various terminal N-acyl groups with desired amino acids. In this methodology, two technologies, Flexizyme system consisting of artificial ribozymes and a reconstitute E. coli cell-free translation system (PURE system), were used. First, an amino acid carrying a desired N-acyl group was charged onto an initiation tRNA by the Flexizyme system. The addition of this N-acyl-aminoacyl-tRNA (N-acyl-aa-tRNA) to the PURE system allowed us to initiate the peptide synthesis with the designated N-acyl-amino acid. By means of this methodology, the translation was exclusively initiated by various N-terminal acyl groups as well as amino acids without contamination of N-formylmethionine.

MeSH terms

  • Aminoacylation
  • Cell-Free System
  • Escherichia coli / genetics
  • Peptide Chain Initiation, Translational*
  • Peptides / chemistry*
  • Phenylalanine / analogs & derivatives
  • RNA, Catalytic / metabolism
  • RNA, Transfer, Amino Acyl / chemistry*
  • RNA, Transfer, Amino Acyl / metabolism
  • RNA, Transfer, Met / chemistry
  • RNA, Transfer, Met / metabolism*
  • Transfer RNA Aminoacylation*

Substances

  • Peptides
  • RNA, Catalytic
  • RNA, Transfer, Amino Acyl
  • RNA, Transfer, Met
  • Phenylalanine