The cover picture shows a new concept for producing DOPA‐rich underwater adhesive proteins from marine mussels by genetic code expansion. By using computational design and genetic selection methods, a novel Methanocaldococcus jannaschii tyrosyl‐tRNA synthetase‐based enzyme was engineered. It activates the photocaged DOPA derivative ortho‐nitrobenzyl (ONB)‐DOPA for incorporation into proteins in response to amber stop codons through orthogonal translation. In this way, mussel proteins are equipped with ONB‐DOPA at multiple sites, and this introduces spatiotemporal control over their adhesive properties. Exposure to UV light triggers cleavage of the ONB photocage, liberating the adhesive catechol side chain of DOPA. This strategy provides new ways for producing DOPA‐based wet adhesives for application in industry and biomedicine. More information can be found in the communication by N. Budisa et al. on page 1819 in Issue 18, 2017 (DOI: 10.1002/cbic.201700327).

中文翻译：

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封面：可光活化的基于贻贝的水下粘附蛋白，具有扩展的遗传密码（ChemBioChem 18/2017）

封面图片显示了通过遗传密码扩展从海蚌生产富含DOPA的水下粘合蛋白的新概念。通过使用计算设计和遗传选择方法，设计了一种新型的詹氏甲烷球菌酪氨酰tRNA合成酶基酶。它会激活邻位光笼化的DOPA衍生物‐硝基苄基（ONB）‐DOPA，用于通过正交翻译响应琥珀色终止密码子而掺入蛋白质。这样，贻贝蛋白在多个位点都配备了ONB-DOPA，这对它们的黏附特性引入了时空控制。暴露于紫外线下会触发ONB光笼的分裂，从而释放DOPA的邻苯二酚粘合剂侧链。该策略为生产用于工业和生物医学的基于DOPA的湿胶提供了新途径。N. Budisa等人在来文中可以找到更多信息。就在第18期，2017年1819页（：10.1002 / cbic.201700327 DOI）。