Crystal structures reveal an elusive functional domain of pyrrolysyl-tRNA synthetase.

Nat Chem Biol
Authors
Keywords
Abstract

Pyrrolysyl-tRNA synthetase (PylRS) is a major tool in genetic code expansion using noncanonical amino acids, yet its structure and function are not completely understood. Here we describe the crystal structure of the previously uncharacterized essential N-terminal domain of this unique enzyme in complex with tRNA. This structure explains why PylRS remains orthogonal in a broad range of organisms, from bacteria to humans. The structure also illustrates why tRNA recognition by PylRS is anticodon independent: the anticodon does not contact the enzyme. Then, using standard microbiological culture equipment, we established a new method for laboratory evolution-a noncontinuous counterpart of the previously developed phage-assisted continuous evolution. With this method, we evolved novel PylRS variants with enhanced activity and amino acid specificity. Finally, we employed an evolved PylRS variant to determine its N-terminal domain structure and show how its mutations improve PylRS activity in the genetic encoding of a noncanonical amino acid.

Year of Publication
2017
Journal
Nat Chem Biol
Volume
13
Issue
12
Pages
1261-1266
Date Published
2017 Dec
ISSN
1552-4469
DOI
10.1038/nchembio.2497
PubMed ID
29035363
PubMed Central ID
PMC5698177
Links
Grant list
F32 GM106621 / GM / NIGMS NIH HHS / United States
R01 GM022854 / GM / NIGMS NIH HHS / United States
R35 GM118062 / GM / NIGMS NIH HHS / United States
R35 GM122560 / GM / NIGMS NIH HHS / United States
R01 EB022376 / EB / NIBIB NIH HHS / United States