Designer membraneless organelles enable codon reassignment of selected mRNAs in eukaryotes

Science. 2019 Mar 29;363(6434):eaaw2644. doi: 10.1126/science.aaw2644.

Abstract

Nature regulates interference between cellular processes-allowing more complexity of life-by confining specific functions to organelles. Inspired by this concept, we designed an artificial organelle dedicated to protein engineering. We generated a membraneless organelle to translate only one type of messenger RNA-by recruiting an RNA-targeting system, stop codon-suppression machinery, and ribosomes-by means of phase separation and spatial targeting. This enables site-specific protein engineering with a tailored noncanonical function in response to one specific codon in the entire genome only in the protein of choice. Our results demonstrate a simple yet effective approach to the generation of artificial organelles that provides a route toward customized orthogonal translation and protein engineering in semisynthetic eukaryotic cells.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • COS Cells
  • Caenorhabditis elegans / genetics
  • Cell Membrane
  • Chlorocebus aethiops
  • Codon / genetics*
  • Genetic Code*
  • HEK293 Cells
  • Humans
  • Lysine / analogs & derivatives
  • Lysine / genetics
  • Methanosarcina
  • Organelles / chemistry
  • Organelles / metabolism*
  • Organelles / ultrastructure*
  • Protein Biosynthesis / genetics*
  • Protein Engineering / methods*
  • RNA, Messenger / genetics*
  • RNA, Transfer / chemistry
  • Ribosomes / chemistry
  • Synthetic Biology

Substances

  • Codon
  • RNA, Messenger
  • RNA, Transfer
  • pyrrolysine
  • Lysine