C-GEM researchers developed a novel post-translational backbone editing reaction to replace a peptide bond with a C-C bond as diketones and heterocycles. This general strategy provides the first example of a CāC bond forming reaction to take place within the peptide backbone, as well as the first ribosomal strategy for generating protein-like materials with diverse, backbone-embedded heterocycles. The genetically encoded, new-to-nature biopolymers produced should accelerate the discovery of genetically encoded molecules whose properties better resemble those of bioactive natural products.
This work was led by Carly Schissel (postdoc, UC Berkeley) in collaboration with Helena Roberts-Mataric (graduate student, UC Berkeley), Isaac Garcia (postbac, UC Berkeley), Hana Kang (former postbac, UC Berkeley), Riaz Mowzoon-Mogharrabi (graduate student, UC Berkeley), Matthew Francis (senior investigator, UC Berkeley), and Alanna Schepartz (director, UC Berkeley).
Learn more about Carly and this project in the Miller Institute Newsletter.