Poly[(3-hydroxypropyl) oxirane] and poly[(4-hydroxybutyl)oxirane]: New hydrophilic polyether elastomers

Preparations of poly[(3-hydroxypropyl)oxirane] and poly[(4-hydroxybutyl)oxirane] are described. Three routes to poly[(3-hydroxypropyl)oxirane] are discussed, each of which involves the methanolysis of a polymeric ester. (3-Acetoxypropyl)oxirane, [3-(m-chlorobenzoyloxy)propyl]oxirane, and (3-chloropropyl)oxirane were polymerized using the AIEt₃/H₂O/AcAc initiator system. Poly[(3-acetoxypropyl)oxirane] and poly{[3-(m-chlorobenzoyloxy)propyl]oxirane} were converted directly to poly[(3-hydroxypropyl)oxirane] by methanolysis, the former under either acidic or basic conditions only. Poly[(3-chloropropyl)oxirane] was first converted to poly[(3-benzoyloxypropyl)oxirane] by treatment with tetrabutylammonium benzoate; subsequent basic methanolysis then afforded poly[(3-hydroxypropyl)oxirane]. Poly[(3-hydroxypropyl)oxirane] is a colorless elastomer which can be cast into tough, clear films from water or methanol. Poly[(4-hydroxybutyl)oxirane] was prepared from poly[(4-chlorobutyl)oxirane] by benzoyloxylation and subsequent methanolysis. Poly[(4-hydroxybutyl)oxirane] is insoluble in water, but is hydrophilic and can be cast into tough films from methanol or dimethylsulfoxide.     

Breaking the degeneracy of the genetic code

A mutant yeast phenylalanine transfer RNA (ytRNAPheAAA) containing a modified (AAA) anticodon was generated to explore the feasibility of breaking the degeneracy of the genetic code in Escherichia coli. By using an E. coli strain co-transformed with ytRNAPheAAA and a mutant yeast phenylalanyl-tRNA synthetase, we demonstrate efficient replacement of phenylalanine (Phe) by L-3-(2-naphthyl)alanine (Nal) at UUU, but not at UUC codons.     

Site-specific incorporation of tryptophan analogues into recombinant proteins in bacterial cells

A designed yeast phenylalanyl-tRNA synthetase (yPheRS (T415G)) activates four tryptophan (Trp) analogues (6-chlorotryptophan (6ClW), 6-bromotryptophan (6BrW), 5-bromotryptophan (5BrW), and benzothienylalanine (BT)) that are not utilized by the endogenous E. coli translational apparatus. Introduction of yPheRS (T415G) and a mutant yeast phenylalanine amber suppressor tRNA (ytRNAPheCUA_UG) into an E. coli expression host allowed site-specific incorporation of three of these analogues (6ClW, 6BrW, and BT) into recombinant murine dihydrofolate reductase in response to amber stop codons with at least 98% fidelity. All three analogues were introduced at the Trp66 position in the chromophore of a cyan fluorescent protein variant (CFP6) to investigate the attendant changes in spectral properties. Each of the analogues caused blue shifts in the fluorescence emission and absorption maxima. The CFP6 variant bearing BT at position 66 exhibited an unusually large Stokes shift (56 nm). An expanded set of genetically encoded Trp analogues should enable the design of new proteins with novel spectral properties.