Abstract: A method and composition for tRNA synthetases that activate and aminoacylate nonstandard and noncognate amino acids to tRNA adaptor molecules is described that can be used to generate custom designed protein products for uses in medicinal, therapeutic, diagnostic, biotechnology, engineering, and spectroscopy applications. Some tRNA synthetases naturally misactivate and misaminoacylate noncognate amino acids. Many of these tRNA synthetases, including but not limited to leucyl-, isoleucyl-, and valyl-tRNA synthetases, have evolved proofreading and editing mechanisms to correct these mistakes. Inactivation of the enzyme's editing activity allows and facilitates production and accumulation of tRNAs that are misaminoacylated with nonstandard and noncognate amino acids. These misaminoacylated tRNAs can be used to introduce novel amino acids into proteins.

Abstract: A method and composition for tRNA synthetases that activate and aminoacylate nonstandard and noncognate amino acids to tRNA adaptor molecules is described that can be used to generate custom designed protein products for uses in medicinal, therapeutic, diagnostic, biotechnology, engineering, and spectroscopy applications. Some tRNA synthetases naturally misactivate and misaminoacylate noncognate amino acids. Many of these tRNA synthetases, including but not limited to leucyl-, isoleucyl-, and valyl-tRNA synthetases, have evolved proofreading and editing mechanisms to correct these mistakes. Inactivation of the enzyme's editing activity allows and facilitates production and accumulation of tRNAs that are misaminoacylated with nonstandard and noncognate amino acids. These misaminoacylated tRNAs can be used to introduce novel amino acids into proteins.

Abstract: Isolated and/or recombinant nucleic acids encoding mycobacterial methionyl-tRNA synthetase have been characterized. Recombinant DNA constructs and vectors having a sequence which encodes mycobacterial methionyl-tRNA synthetase have been made, and can be used for the construction of tester strains as well as for the production of isolated and/or recombinant methionyl-tRNA synthetases. These enzymes or portions thereof are useful in the biochemical separation of methionine and quantification of methionine or ATP, and for producing antibodies useful in the purification and study of the enzyme, for example. Host cells and methods useful for producing recombinant mycobacterial methionyl-tRNA synthetases are described, as are tester strains, which are cells engineered to rely on the function of the tRNA synthetase encoded by an introduced cloned gene.

Abstract: Isolated and/or recombinant nucleic acids encoding mycobacterial seryl-tRNA synthetase have been characterized. Recombinant DNA constructs and vectors having a sequence which encodes mycobacterial seryl-tRNA synthetase have been made, and can be used for the construction of tester strains as well as for the production of isolated and/or recombinant seryl-tRNA synthetases. These enzymes or portions thereof are useful in the biochemical separation of serine and quantification of serine or ATP, and for producing antibodies useful in the purification and study of the enzyme, for example. Host cells and methods useful for producing recombinant mycobacterial seryl-tRNA synthetases are described, as are tester strains, which are cells engineered to rely on the function of the tRNA synthetase encoded by an introduced cloned gene.