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Non-canonical amino acids

Unlocking new chemistries, structures, and functions beyond nature's 20 amino acid palette

Biology gives you 20 building blocks.
We give you hundreds more.

Stability. Permeability. Conjugation handles. Protease resistance.
Properties you can't get from nature.

How we engineer novel aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases

We engineer orthogonal aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases (aaRS) that selectively charge non-canonical amino acids onto dedicated tRNAs. These engineered aaRS–tRNA pairs work alongside the cell's native translation machinery without cross-reacting, enabling site-specific incorporation of ncAAs into peptides and proteins during standard fermentation.

Engineered aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase incorporating a non-canonical amino acid

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Programmable biomolecules of the future

How incorporating non-canonical amino acids creates therapeutics with enhanced stability, oral bioavailability, and novel mechanisms.

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ncAAs in action

Examples from recent scientific breakthroughs (2024-2025)

Boost stability & immunogenicity
Cell permeability
New-to-nature geometries
Precise bioconjugation
Molecule activation
Enhanced catalytic activity
Complete biosynthesis
Protease resistance
Modular bispecifics
Dynamic activity control
Fine-tuned acid-base switch
Quinoline heterocycles
Heteropolymer backbone
Enhanced ADC linkers
Architecture
Prolonged action
Catalysis
Functional switch
Activity, stability, structure
Stable functional modifications
De novo protein synthesis study
Selectivity, PK, activation
Superior activity and low tox
Stability, binding