Reprogramming Genetic Code for Precision Biology

Han Xiao's research pioneers genetic reprogramming using noncanonical amino acids to control cellular functions and enzyme activities in vivo.

Most organisms rely on 20 standard amino acids to synthesize proteins, with few exceptions. Chemist Han Xiao's research focuses on reprogramming the genetic code to manipulate biological systems with precision, utilizing noncanonical amino acids (ncAAs) that possess diverse properties. While researchers typically use ncAAs to study protein structure and dynamics, Xiao aims to advance their application further ().

Advancing Cellular Function Control with Noncanonical Amino Acids

“This innovative approach could revolutionize how we understand and control cellular functions,” said Xiao, the Norman Hackerman-Welch Young Investigator, associate professor of chemistry, director of Rice’s Synthesis X Center and a Cancer Prevention & Research Institute of Texas Scholar.

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‘Did You Know?
Cells normally use 20 amino acids, but this research explores using extras (noncanonical amino acids) to basically control cellular functions like a puppeteer! #PrecisionBiology #GeneticCode #medindia’

Xiao will use the five-year grant to develop innovative cells capable of biosynthesizing and utilizing ncAAs and to explore their potential as in vivo sensors for enzymes involved in posttranslational modifications (PTMs).

PTMs are essential for regulating cell biology. The enzymes that add and remove PTMs, known as “writers” and “erasers,” play major roles in causing various diseases, including cancer and neurological disorders.

Developing Live-Cell Monitoring for Enzyme Activities

Current methods for detecting these enzyme activities, such as fluorescence analysis, western blot and mass spectrometry, are limited to laboratory settings. Xiao’s research seeks to develop ways to monitor these activities within living organisms.

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“Our goal is to create eukaryotic cells that can produce proteins with PTM handles, enabling real-time monitoring of enzyme activities,” Xiao said.

These engineered cells could pave the way for new strategies in treating diseases by providing valuable insights into the effectiveness of epigenetic inhibitors in live subjects. MIRA supports research in an investigator’s laboratory that falls within the mission of the National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS). The goal of MIRA is to increase the efficiency of NIGMS funding by providing investigators with greater stability and flexibility, thereby enhancing scientific productivity and the chances for important breakthroughs.

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Reference:

Rice research aims to reprogram the genetic code - (https://news.rice.edu/news/2024/rice-research-aims-reprogram-genetic-code)

Source-Eurekalert

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