Second SeminarJessica Torres- Incorporation of Unnatural Amino Acids into Proteins & Biomedical Research

Labeling protein and how researchers created a way to label proteins more efficient were new concepts for me that I could understand. Within those concepts that I could learned and understand from the article were the methods involved in protein labeling, such as, the use of fluorescent protein fusions, self-labeling proteins and ligases. Something that grabs my attention was that currently, researchers create engineered cells to label proteins without disrupting the normal function of the protein or cell. Another thing that interested

me was the developed of the 21st

amino acid, by Alexandra Deters and Jason W. Chin, to incorporate it to the protein they wanted to study. I understand the importance of studying proteins because, as Jessica’s presentation explains, many are caused by errors in proteins; for example, one amino acid deletion.