Engineering the Genetic Code: Expanding the Amino Acid Repertoire for the Design of Novel Proteins

The chemistry of the life is based on defined number of the generic monomeric building blocks. For example, twenty canonical alpha-amino acids are encoded for basic protein syntheses in all organisms.

The central issue of this book are experimental strategies and techniques to expand the number of the amino acids for protein biosyntheses. This requires the reprogramming of protein translation machinery by changing the coding capacities of standard genetic code - a main goal of the genetic code engineering as new research field.

Such genetically encoded protein modifications achieved by introducing non-canonical amino acids both in vitro and in vivo have greatly expanded the repertoire of accessible proteins for basic research and biotechnological application.

The researchers and students are provided with a comprehensive coverage of important new principles of different methods and strategies to incorporate new or modified amino acids into proteins including a lot of practical advice for first-time users of these powerful approaches.

Numerous examples, made possible by the expansion of the genetic code, are given in order to cover the entire spectrum of novel applications in protein biochemistry, genomics, biotechnology and biomedicine.
Some other interesting aspects discussed in this book include the relations between prebiotic (extraterrestrial, meteoritic, interstellar) and encoded amino acids; the possibility to couple engineered metabolic circuits with reprogrammed translation; to remodel current life and progressively develop truly novel life forms, as well as possible ethical implications of such experiments on human societies.

Essential reading for all molecular life scientists who want to stay ahead in their research.