Unnatural amino acid technology for extending half-life

The unnatural amino acid expression system is a biotechnology method for synthesizing non-natural amino acids. Amino acids are the basic building blocks of proteins, and unnatural amino acids refer to amino acids that are not commonly found in nature. Using the unnatural amino acid expression system, unnatural amino acids with specific structures and functions can be synthesized, thereby developing proteins with special properties and application potential.

The use of unnatural amino acids can significantly affect the half-life of protein drugs, thereby improving drug stability and bioavailability.

Unnatural amino acid technology is an important protein engineering method. By introducing unnatural amino acids into proteins, it can give proteins unique pharmacological properties, such as improving pharmacokinetic stability, bioavailability, and extending half-life. This technology expands the genetic code through modified tRNA and the corresponding aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase, allowing the addition of unnatural amino acids during the protein synthesis process, thereby achieving specific modification of protein drugs. For example, enhance proteolytic resistance and extend half-life by introducing D-type amino acids. In diabetes treatment, lipidation of GLP-1 extends its half-life, making liraglutide clinically useful. In addition, Cell-free protein expression system (CFPS), as it can efficiently and conveniently achieve selective modification of target proteins by adding unnatural amino acid substrates to the reaction system, is therefore being used in the development of new pharmaceutical proteins and proteins. It has huge application prospects in the field of drug upgrading.

Unnatural amino acid incorporation though nonsense codon suppression⁽¹⁾

At Profacgen, we can not only provide expression of unnatural amino acid proteins in CFPS systems, but also in Escherichia coli and mammalian systems. We have extensive experience in recombinant expression of protein and antibody drugs, and have various methods for introducing unnatural amino acids to meet the diverse needs of different customers.

Profacgen relies on advanced protein engineering platforms to provide a comprehensive set of UAA integrated protein expression services. For more information on the expression of unnatural amino acid proteins, please contact us.