Escherichia coli, researchers incorporated several unnatural amino acids into bacterial proteins.
STEVE GSCHMEISSNER/Science Source
New approach to rewriting bacteria’s genetic code could lead to novel medicines
Jun. 3, 2021 , 4:10 PM
Virtually all living organisms construct their proteins from combinations of 20 different amino acids. To add new amino acids to the mix, scientists have re-engineered genes and other bits of protein-building machinery, resulting in proteins with unique chemical properties useful in making drugs. But the work is laborious and can typically only add one new amino acid at a time.
Now, researchers have opened the floodgates to doing much more. They report today that a broad rewrite of a bacterium’s genome lets them add numerous novel amino acids to one protein. The work could open new ways to synthesize antibiotics and antitumor drugs.