nsAAs

Genetic code expansion enables plant-directed control of bacterial activity

Programmable control of microbial gene expression by plant hosts could enable a new generation of precision agricultural biotechnology. Here, using O-methyl-L-tyrosine (OMY) as a model compound, we establish non-standard amino acids (nsAA) as a platform for plant-based control of associated microbial activity. We use genetic code expansion to engineer OMY-dependent control of protein synthesis in the soil bacterium Bacillus subtilis.