In nature, only limited sets of monomers are utilized, consequently, producing limited classes of biopolymers. Expansion of this (painting) palette to include synthetic building blocks results in new classes of macromolecules when biological materials accept the new building blocks and connect them into a polymer. Using the novel building blocks with programmed stereochemistry, we produce a broad range of polymeric materials holding finely tuned functional properties.

In this research area (1), we pursue to expand the range of the monomer repertoires that are compatible with the translational machinery and ribosome. The new monomers are designed to be loaded to tRNA by enzymatic or chemical methods and form non-amide bonds with other monomers in the ribosome via translation.

Nat. Commun. 2020, 11, 4304

Nat. Commun. 2019, 10, 5097