Cover picture of Angewandte Chemie
A first step towards the creation of synthetic cells is performed by the research group of Prof. Nediljko Budisa.
The chemical composition and the genetic code of an auxotrophic Escheria coli were changed in the frame of a long term evolution experiment. During the experiment, the cells were gradually forced to replace natural building block tryptophan, with thienopyrrolyl-alanine in their proteomes.
This is the first step in the creation of synthetic life, which should be genetically and metabolically so far away from that found in nature that it cannot survive outside of laboratory conditions.
These new research results will be published at the latest issue of Angewandte Chemie DOI: 10.1002/anie.201502868
See also: Research\Research Highlights.