Ribosome Subunit Stapling for Orthogonal Translation in E. coli

The creation of orthogonal large and small ribosomal subunits, which interact with each other but not with endogenous ribosomal subunits, would extend our capacity to create new functions in the ribosome by making the large subunit evolvable. To this end, we rationally designed a ribosomal RNA that covalently links the ribosome subunits via an RNA staple. The stapled ribosome is directed to an orthogonal mRNA, allowing the introduction of mutations into the large subunit that reduce orthogonal translation, but have minimal effects on cell growth. Our approach provides a promising route towards orthogonal subunit association, which may enable the evolution of key functional centers in the large subunit, including the peptidyl‐transferase center, for unnatural polymer synthesis in cells. Für immer verbunden: Ein orthogonales Ribosom, in dem die große und kleine Untereinheit durch eine RNA‐Klammer kovalent verbunden sind, wurde entwickelt und zu einer orthogonalen mRNA gelenkt. Dieses Ribosom erlaubt die orthogonale Proteinsynthese in Zellen und ermöglicht die Einführung ansonsten tödlicher Mutationen in die große Untereinheit. Orthogonale zelluläre Translation könnte somit die ribosomkatalysierte Synthese nichtnatürlicher Polymere ermöglichen.