Expanding the genetic code of Mus musculus.

Han, Songmi; Yang, Aerin; Lee, Soonjang; Lee, Han-Woong; Park, Chan Bae; Park, Hee-Sung · Nat Commun · 2017

basic_science · Level V

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Abstract

Here we report the expansion of the genetic code of Mus musculus with various unnatural amino acids including N<sup>ɛ</sup>-acetyl-lysine. Stable integration of transgenes encoding an engineered N<sup>ɛ</sup>-acetyl-lysyl-tRNA synthetase (AcKRS)/tRNA<sup>Pyl</sup> pair into the mouse genome enables site-specific incorporation of unnatural amino acids into a target protein in response to the amber codon. We demonstrate temporal and spatial control of protein acetylation in various organs of the transgenic mouse using a recombinant green fluorescent protein (GFPuv) as a model protein. This strategy will provide a powerful tool for systematic in vivo study of cellular proteins in the most commonly used mammalian model organism for human physiology and disease.

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