Ribosomal synthesis of bicyclic peptides via two orthogonal inter-side-chain reactions

Here we report a new methodology for the synthesis of bicyclic peptides by using a reconstituted cell-free translation system under the reprogrammed genetic code. Cysteine (Cys) and three different nonproteinogenic amino acids, Cab, Aha, and PgI, were simultaneously incorporated into a peptide chain. The first cyclization occurred between the chloroacetyl group of Cab and the sulfhydryl group in Cys in situ of translation, and the second cyclization on the side chains of Aha-Pgl via Cu(I)-catalyzed azide-alkyne cycloaddition was performed. This offers us a powerful means of mRNA-programmed synthesis of various peptides with uniform bicyclic scaffolds.