|
Close Details
|
|
2012 - 11th Annual NC State Summer Undergraduate Research Symposium
|
|
Session Time :
8/1/12 1:30 PM - 8/1/12 2:45 PM
|
|
Content Area : Chemistry REU Program
|
Lead Student Presenters : Luis Angel Vázquez-Maldonado
|
Abstract Title : Synthesis of Unnatural Amino Acids with Photochemical and Bioconjugation Properties for the Expression of Proteins with New Function
|
Abstract :
Site-specific incorporation of unnatural amino acids (UAAs) into proteins has led to wide-ranging applications for biological studies that have allowed important insights into the structure, function and dynamic behavior of a diverse number of proteins. Thus, the incorporation of UAAs into proteins in bacterial and mammalian cells via an orthogonal tRNA/aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase pair to expand the genetic code has created a demand for novel unnatural amino acids. Several analogues of lysine and tyrosine with photochemical or bioconjugation properties have been synthesized. The UAAs with light-removable groups allows the inhibition of the protein’s original function and it is later restored by non-invasive UV irradiation in a spatiotemporal fashion. In addition, UAAs with reactive handles, such as ketone and norbornene, allows for bioconjugation reactions with proteins. The introduction of these otherwise inert functionalities into proteins serves as a strategy to site-specifically label with virtually any probe, allowing for specific tracing and detection of the desired protein. A number of the presented amino acids have been incorporated into proteins, while others are in progress towards biological studies.
|
Mentor and/or Co-Author : Alexander Deiters
|