High-Level Cell-Free Synthesis Yields of Proteins Containing Site-Specific Non-Natural Amino Acids

We describe an E. coli-based cell-free system for the production of proteins with a non-natural amino acid (nnAA) incorporated site-specifically (modified protein). The mutant Methanococcus jannaschii tyrosyl-tRNA synthetase (mTyrRS) and tRNATyr pair were used as orthogonal elements. The mTyrRS experienced proteolysis and modified protein yields improved with higher synthetase addition (200-300 mu g/mL). Product yields were also improved by increasing levels of total protein to 20 mg protein/mL and available vesicle surface area to 0.5 m(2)/mL This new E. coli-based cell-free procedure produced up to 400 mu g/mL, of eCAT109pAz, 660 mu g/mL of eDHFR10pAz, and 210 mu g/mL of mDHFR31pAz with p-azido-L-phenylalanine (pAz) incorporated site-specifically at the amber nonsense codon. O-methyl-L-tyrosine and p-acetyl-L-phenylalanine were incorporated by similar protocols. The desired specificity for incorporation of the nnAA by the cell-free system was confirmed. Additionally, the modified proteins were enzymatically active and reactive for copper (I)-catalyzed (3 + 2) cycloadditions (click chemistry).