Northwestern University

University of Illinois

Anne E d'Aquino

Michael Christopher Jewett

Alexander S Mankin

Do Soon Kim

Cedric Orelle

Erik D Carlson

Teresa Szal

Disclosed are engineered or modifiedribosomes and methods, components, compositions, and kits for preparing and identifying engineered or modifiedribosomes. The engineered or modifiedribosomes may be prepared and identified under a set of defined conditions, such as in the presences of a engineered or modified tRNA comprising a non-natural, non-α-amino acid monomer (NNA), in order to obtain an engineered or modified ribosome that utilizes the engineered or modified tRNA as a substrate for synthesizing a polymer comprising the NNA.

Ribosome variants for sequence defined polymer synthesis

An engineered ribosome that includes a tethered subunit arrangement is disclosed, in which the engineered ribosome supports translation of a sequence defined polymer. Methods for making and using the engineered ribosome are also disclosed, including a method for preparing a sequence defined polymer using the engineered ribosome and a method for preparing a sequence defined polymer using the engineered ribosome in a two-protein translation system. The engineered ribosomes may be utilized in methods for incorporating unnatural amino acids into a sequence defined polymer. Also disclosed are optimized polynucleotide sequences for use as tethers and Shine-Dalgarno/anti-Shine-Dalgarno sequences.

Ribosomes with tethered subunits

Growing community of inventors

Evanston, IL, United States of America

Anne E d'Aquino