Seminar Prof. Joongoo Lee [POSTECH, Department of Chemical Engineering] - Ribosome as a molecular machine
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Date : 2024/03/28, 5PM
Venue : Science Hall B133
Abstract : Ribosomes are molecular machines that have evolved to polymerize L-alpha amino acids into peptides or proteins with amide linkages. Here, I discuss our recent investigation into leveraging the ribosome’s polymerization ability to produce a novel chemical motif, pyridazinone, on a cell-free platform instead of via a peptide bond. Specifically, I explain a ribosome-catalyzed cyclocondensation reaction between activated γ-keto and α-hydrazino ester monomers. This reaction demonstrates the ribosome’s catalytic mechanism is plastic, as observed in both remnants of evolution and current efforts to expand genetic codes. Based on this result, we anticipate that rational designs of non-canonical monomers and engineering of the translational machinery in the system may open new opportunities for developing genetically encoded chemistry, transforming drug discovery practices beyond traditional boundaries.