Compositions of tRNA and Uses Thereof

Abstract

Compositions and methods of producing components of protein biosynthetic machinery that include orthogonal tRNA's, orthogonal aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases, and orthogonal pairs of tRNA's/synthetases are provided. Methods for identifying these orthogonal pairs are also provided along with methods of producing proteins using these orthogonal pairs.

1 - 39 . (canceled) 
     
     
         40 . A method of producing a polypeptide in a cell with a selected amino acid at a specified position, the method comprising:
 growing, in an appropriate medium, the cell, where the cell comprises a nucleic acid that comprises at least one selector codon and encodes a polypeptide; and,   providing the selected amino acid;   wherein the cell further comprises:   an orthogonal tRNA (O-tRNA) that functions in the cell and recognizes the selector codon having the amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 1, 2, 3, a complementary polynucleotide sequence thereof, and a conservative variation thereof; and,   an orthogonal aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase (O-RS), wherein said O-RS aminoacylates the O-tRNA with the selected amino acid.   
     
     
         41 . (canceled) 
     
     
         42 . A polypeptide produced by the method of  claim 40 . 
     
     
         43 . The polypeptide of  claim 40  wherein said selected amino acid is para-acetyl phenylalanine. 
     
     
         44 - 45 . (canceled)