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Biosynthesis and Charging of Pyrrolysine, the 22nd Genetically Encoded Amino Acid
Author(s) -
Hertweck Christian
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
angewandte chemie international edition
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 5.831
H-Index - 550
eISSN - 1521-3773
pISSN - 1433-7851
DOI - 10.1002/anie.201103769
Subject(s) - amino acid , lysine , dipeptide , biochemistry , methyltransferase , chemistry , biosynthesis , genetic code , biology , gene , methylation
Two become one: Pyrrolysine, a critical component of several methyltransferases in archaebacteria, is the latest addition to the inventory of genetically encoded amino acids. Studies at the genetic, biochemical, and chemical levels have now revealed that this rare amino acid is assembled from two lysine units via an unusual ε‐dipeptide, and is then charged by a designated translational machinery.