An easy tool to monitor the elemental steps of in vitro translation via gel electrophoresis of fluorescently labeled small peptides

BPY-Met-tRNA^fMet structure (A) and products generated using BPY-Met-tRNA^fMet and a transcription–translational coupled system (B). The mRNA coding sequences of DNA templates that were used are depicted above each lane, and the products visualized on the gel are labeled (shown in arrows). The original BPY-Met-tRNA^fMet corresponds to lane 6, while lane 7 contains the BPY-Met formed by ester bond hydrolysis by 1 M NaHCO₃. Other spots (lanes 1–5) correspond to the products of translation: M, MF, MF₂, MF₄, and MF₆. BPY is marked with a green oval—BODIPY label; black circle—methionine; gray circles—phenylalanine residues; blue oval—tRNA^fMet.