Evolving new molecular function
First Claim
1. An in vitro method for synthesizing a templated molecule comprising a plurality of functional groups, the method comprising the steps ofi) providing at least one template comprising a sequence of n codons,wherein each codon comprises at least one base capable of recognizing a predetermined complementary anti-codon, andwherein n is an integer of more than 1,ii) providing a plurality of transfer units, wherein each transfer unit comprisesa) at least one anti-codon comprising at least one base capable of recognizing a predetermined codon of the at least one template,b) at least one reactive unit comprising at least one functional group and at least one reactive group, andc) at least one linker separating the at least one reactive unit from the at least one anti-codon,iii) contacting the at least one template with the plurality of transfer units, andiv) obtaining a templated molecule comprising covalently linked, functional groups by linking, by means of a reaction involving reactive groups, a functional group of at least one reactive unit of at least one transfer unit to a functional group of a reactive unit of at least one other transfer unit,wherein the templated molecule is linked by means of a covalent linker to the template that templated the synthesis of the templated molecule, andwherein the synthesis of the templated molecule does not involve ribosome mediated translation of an mRNA.
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Abstract
Nature evolves biological molecules such as proteins through iterated rounds of diversification, selection, and amplification. The present invention provides methods, compositions, and systems for synthesizing, selecting, amplifying, and evolving non-natural molecules based on nucleic acid templates. The sequence of a nucleic acid template is used to direct the synthesis of non-natural molecules such as unnatural polymers and small molecules. Using this method combinatorial libraries of these molecules can be prepared and screened. Upon selection of a molecule, its encoding nucleic acid template may be amplified and/or evolved to yield the same molecule or related molecules for re-screening. The inventive methods and compositions of the present invention allow for the amplification and evolution of non-natural molecules in a manner analogous to the amplification of natural biopolymer such as polynucleotides and protein.
150 Citations
11 Claims
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1. An in vitro method for synthesizing a templated molecule comprising a plurality of functional groups, the method comprising the steps of
i) providing at least one template comprising a sequence of n codons, wherein each codon comprises at least one base capable of recognizing a predetermined complementary anti-codon, and wherein n is an integer of more than 1, ii) providing a plurality of transfer units, wherein each transfer unit comprises a) at least one anti-codon comprising at least one base capable of recognizing a predetermined codon of the at least one template, b) at least one reactive unit comprising at least one functional group and at least one reactive group, and c) at least one linker separating the at least one reactive unit from the at least one anti-codon, iii) contacting the at least one template with the plurality of transfer units, and iv) obtaining a templated molecule comprising covalently linked, functional groups by linking, by means of a reaction involving reactive groups, a functional group of at least one reactive unit of at least one transfer unit to a functional group of a reactive unit of at least one other transfer unit, wherein the templated molecule is linked by means of a covalent linker to the template that templated the synthesis of the templated molecule, and wherein the synthesis of the templated molecule does not involve ribosome mediated translation of an mRNA.
Specification