Pyrrolysyl-tRNA synthetase (PylRS) is a class IIc aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase that is related to phenylalanyl-tRNA synthetase (PheRS). Genetic selection provided PylRS variants with a broad range of specificity for diverse non-canonical amino acids (ncAAs). One variant is a specific phenylalanine-incorporating enzyme. Structural models of the PylRSamino acid complex show that the small pocket size and π-interaction play an important role in specific recognition of Phe and the engineered PylRS active site resembles that of Escherichia coli PheRS.
Keywords: Non-canonical amino acid; Phenylalanyl-tRNA synthetase; Pyrrolysyl-tRNA synthetase; Superfolder green fluorescent protein.
Copyright © 2013 Federation of European Biochemical Societies. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.