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Biosynthetic incorporation of the azulene moiety in proteins with high efficiency

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Abstract

Biosynthetic incorporation of β-(1-azulenyl)-l-alanine, an isostere of tryptophan, is reported using a tryptophan auxotroph expression host. The azulene moiety introduced this way in proteins features many attractive spectroscopic properties, particularly suitable for in vivo studies.

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Acknowledgments

We thank the China Scholar Council for financial support. I.V.K. is supported in part by a grant number 1332349 from NSF-EFRI, ORAU Ralph E. Powe Junior Faculty Enhancement award and a Humboldt Research Fellowship.

Conflict of interest

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory of Biophysical Chemistry and GBB (Groningen Biomolecular Science and Biotechnology Institute), University of Groningen, Nijenborgh 7, 9747 AG, Groningen, The Netherlands

    Jinfeng Shao & Jaap Broos

  2. Department of Chemistry, Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY, 13244, USA

    Ivan V. Korendovych

Authors
  1. Jinfeng Shao
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  2. Ivan V. Korendovych
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  3. Jaap Broos
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Correspondence to Jaap Broos.

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Shao, J., Korendovych, I.V. & Broos, J. Biosynthetic incorporation of the azulene moiety in proteins with high efficiency. Amino Acids 47, 213–216 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00726-014-1870-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00726-014-1870-4

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