Aminoacyl-tRNA synthesis by a resin-immobilized ribozyme.

We report herein a new method for the aminoacylation of tRNA, using a resin-immobilized ribozyme and the cyanomethyl ester (CME) of an amino acid substrate. The oxidized form of the ribozyme was immobilized on a hydrazine resin via covalent linkage. We performed aminoacylation of tRNAs using this ribozyme-resin to isolate aminoacyl-tRNAs. The column was recycled up to 5 times without significant activity loss. Thus, our ribozyme-based aminoacylation system has significant potential to be a powerful and practical technique for supplying various nonnatural aminoacyl-tRNAs for a highly efficient in vitro translation system.