Many proteins with unusual structural properties
are comprised of multiple repeating amino acid sequences
and are often fractious to expression in recombinant systems.
To facilitate recombinant production of such proteins for
structural and engineering studies, we have produced circular
messenger RNAs with infinite open reading frames. We show
that a circular mRNA containing a simple green fluorescent
protein (GFP) open reading frame can direct GFP expression
in Escherichia coli. A circular mRNA with an infinite
GFP open reading frame produces extremely long protein
chains, proving that bacterial ribosomes can internally
initiate and repeatedly transit a circular mRNA. Only the
monomeric forms of GFP produced from circular mRNA are
fluorescent. Analysis of the translation initiation region
shows that multiple sequences contribute to maximal translation
from circular mRNA. This technology provides a unique means
of producing a very long repeating-sequence protein, and
may open the way for development of proteinaceous materials
with novel properties.