Here, the authors report de novo design, optimization and characterization of tRNAs that decode UGA stop codons in E. coli. The structure of the ribosome in a complex with the designed tRNA bound to a UGA stop codon suggests that distinct A-site ligands (tRNAs versus release factors) induce distinct conformation of the stop codon within the mRNA in the decoding center.
- Suki Albers
- Bertrand Beckert
- Zoya Ignatova