Creating neo-genetic code

2015 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 15K12741
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Challenging Exploratory Research
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Biomolecular chemistry
• Research Institution: Nagoya University
• Principal Investigator: MURAKAMI Hiroshi 名古屋大学, 工学(系)研究科(研究院), 教授 (10361669)
• Project Period (FY): 2015-04-01 – 2016-03-31
• Keywords: 遺伝暗号 / 翻訳 / tRNA

Outline of Final Research Achievements

A translation system employing a neo-genetic code could be a safe and useful tool, because it has a genetic code orthogonal to that of organisms on earth. Here, we developed a cell-free in vitro translation system employing a neo-genetic code. We designed a streptavidin gene based on the neo-genetic code, and expressed it in a translation system employing either a neo-genetic code or the universal genetic code. The protein produced in the translation system employing a neo-genetic code showed biotin binding activity, whereas that produced in the translation system employing the universal genetic code showed no activity. This result indicates that the former protein had the correct amino acid sequence of streptavidin, whereas the latter had a meaningless amino acid sequence, although both proteins were produced from the same gene. The new translation system could be used for safe expression of proteins whose genes are harmful to natural environments and life.

Free Research Field

生体機能関連化学