An orthogonal transcription mutation system generating all transition mutations for accelerated protein evolution in vivo

Abstract Targeted mutagenesis systems are critical for protein evolution. Current deaminase-T7 RNA polymerase fusion systems enable gene-specific mutagenesis but remain limited to certain model organisms. Here, we develop an orthogonal transcription mutation system for in vivo hypermutation in both...

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Main Authors: Mingwei Shao, Zhongnan Zhang, Xiaofan Jin, Jun Ding, Guo-Qiang Chen
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-07-01
Series:Nature Communications
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-61354-4
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author Mingwei Shao
Zhongnan Zhang
Xiaofan Jin
Jun Ding
Guo-Qiang Chen
author_facet Mingwei Shao
Zhongnan Zhang
Xiaofan Jin
Jun Ding
Guo-Qiang Chen
author_sort Mingwei Shao
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Targeted mutagenesis systems are critical for protein evolution. Current deaminase-T7 RNA polymerase fusion systems enable gene-specific mutagenesis but remain limited to certain model organisms. Here, we develop an orthogonal transcription mutation system for in vivo hypermutation in both non-model organism Halomonas bluephagenesis and E. coli, achieving >1,500,000-fold increased mutation rates. By fusing deaminases with three phage RNA polymerases, this system uniformly introduces C:G to T:A and A:T to G:C mutations across target genes. The system demonstrates high specificity, minimal off-target effects, and high orthogonality between phage polymerases. We apply this system to rapidly evolve fluorescent proteins, chromoproteins, cytoskeletal proteins, cell division-related proteins, global sigma factor, and the LysE exporter within a single day of the mutagenesis process. Overall, the orthogonal transcription mutation system is a modular and versatile platform that accelerates protein evolution in the shortest period reported so far.
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institution Kabale University
issn 2041-1723
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spelling doaj-art-51aad04fec8649059cba63ce28ce124e2025-08-20T03:45:33ZengNature PortfolioNature Communications2041-17232025-07-0116111910.1038/s41467-025-61354-4An orthogonal transcription mutation system generating all transition mutations for accelerated protein evolution in vivoMingwei Shao0Zhongnan Zhang1Xiaofan Jin2Jun Ding3Guo-Qiang Chen4School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua UniversitySchool of Life Sciences, Tsinghua UniversitySchool of Life Sciences, Tsinghua UniversitySchool of Life Sciences, Tsinghua UniversitySchool of Life Sciences, Tsinghua UniversityAbstract Targeted mutagenesis systems are critical for protein evolution. Current deaminase-T7 RNA polymerase fusion systems enable gene-specific mutagenesis but remain limited to certain model organisms. Here, we develop an orthogonal transcription mutation system for in vivo hypermutation in both non-model organism Halomonas bluephagenesis and E. coli, achieving >1,500,000-fold increased mutation rates. By fusing deaminases with three phage RNA polymerases, this system uniformly introduces C:G to T:A and A:T to G:C mutations across target genes. The system demonstrates high specificity, minimal off-target effects, and high orthogonality between phage polymerases. We apply this system to rapidly evolve fluorescent proteins, chromoproteins, cytoskeletal proteins, cell division-related proteins, global sigma factor, and the LysE exporter within a single day of the mutagenesis process. Overall, the orthogonal transcription mutation system is a modular and versatile platform that accelerates protein evolution in the shortest period reported so far.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-61354-4
spellingShingle Mingwei Shao
Zhongnan Zhang
Xiaofan Jin
Jun Ding
Guo-Qiang Chen
An orthogonal transcription mutation system generating all transition mutations for accelerated protein evolution in vivo
Nature Communications
title An orthogonal transcription mutation system generating all transition mutations for accelerated protein evolution in vivo
title_full An orthogonal transcription mutation system generating all transition mutations for accelerated protein evolution in vivo
title_fullStr An orthogonal transcription mutation system generating all transition mutations for accelerated protein evolution in vivo
title_full_unstemmed An orthogonal transcription mutation system generating all transition mutations for accelerated protein evolution in vivo
title_short An orthogonal transcription mutation system generating all transition mutations for accelerated protein evolution in vivo
title_sort orthogonal transcription mutation system generating all transition mutations for accelerated protein evolution in vivo
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-61354-4
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