Discovery:
- Krzycki and Chan were trying to figure out how the microbe Methanosarcina barkeri produces methane
- Pyrrolysine was observed in the structure of protein monomethylamine methyltransferase (MtmB) from this microbe, and was initially thought to be the amino acid lysine
- Further structural studies via mass spectrometry and crystallography revealed that it was a new amino acid, pyrrolysine
Production Method Discovered Later:
- Lysine was combined with another amino acid and enzymes in order to produce an intermediate product
- Mass spectrometry was used to observe this intermediate
- A much different mass appeared than expected from the intermediate
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- A regular pyrrolysine molecule was seen rather than a structure made of two different amino acids
- Lysine is the only precursor, only three enzymes and two lysine molecules are necessary in the production process