Prof. Dr. Hiroaki Suga, The University of Tokyo, Department of Chemistry:

Genetic Code Reprogramming by flexizymes for Therapeutic Innovation

Genetic code reprogramming is the method to redesign the genetic code restricted by 20 pro-teinogenic amino acids with other exotic building blocks. Although there are some ways to re-program the genetic code, flexizymes invented by Suga and colleagues are highly versatile cata-lysts to charge a wide range of such amino acids, including D-amino acids, beta/gamma-amino acids, and hydroxy acids. The combination of flexizyme technology with a custom-made cell-free translation system, referred to as Flexible In-vitro Translation (FIT) system, enables for ex-pression of libraries of nonstandard peptides containing exotic building blocks. This method is further integrated with mRNA display has led to the invention of RaPID (Random nonstandard Peptides Integrated Discovery) system, giving ultrafast discovery of de novo bioactive peptides.