Acridonylalanine (Acd) is photostable, with a high quantum yield and long fluorescence lifetime in water. An evolved tRNA synthetase (RS) enables genetic incorporation of Acd in mammalian cells and its use in fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy.
Thirteen novel non-canonical amino acids were synthesized and tested for suppression of an amber codon using a mutant pyrrolysyl-tRNA synthetase–tRNAPylCUA pair.