Abstract
A new Watson-Crick base pair, with a hydrogen bonding pattern different from that in the A·T and G·C base pairs, is incorporated into duplex DNA and RNA by DNA and RNA polymerases and expands the genetic alphabet from 4 to 6 letters. This expansion could lead to RNAs with greater diversity in functional groups and greater catalytic potential.
This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution
Access options
Subscribe to this journal
Receive 51 print issues and online access
$199.00 per year
only $3.90 per issue
Buy this article
- Purchase on Springer Link
- Instant access to full article PDF
Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Gilbert, W. Nature 319, 818 (1986).
Orgel, L. E. J. theor. Biol. 123, 127–149 (1986).
White, H. B. III J. molec. Evol. 7, 101–104 (1976).
Visser, C. M. & Kellogg, R. M. J. molec. Evol. 11, 171–187 (1978).
Rich, A. in Horizons in Biochemistry 103 (eds Kasha, M. & Pullmann, B.) 103–126 (Academic, New York, 1962).
Schram, G., Götsch, H. & Pollmann, W. Angew. Crtem. 73, 619 (1961).
Usher, D. A. & McHale, A. A. Proc. natn. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 73, 1149–1153 (1976).
Cech, T. R., Zaug, A. J. & Grabowski, P. J. Cell 27, 487–496 (1981).
Guerrler-Takada, C. & Altman, S. Science 223, 285–286 (1983).
Doudna, J. A. & Szostak, J. W. Nature 339, 519–522 (1989).
Joyce, G. F., Schwartz, A. W., Miller, S. L. & Orgel, L. E. Proc. natn Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 84, 4398–4402 (1987).
Weiner, A. M, & Maizels, N. Proc. natn Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 83, 7383–7387 (1987).
Benner, S. A., Ellington, A. D. & Tauer, A. Proc. natn Acad. Sci. U.S.A 86, 7054–7058 (1989).
Benner, S. A. et al. Cold Spring Harb. Symp. quant. Biol. 52, 53–63 (1987).
Switzer, C. Y. Moroney, S. E. & Benner, S. A. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 111, 8322–8323 (1989).
Uhlenbeck, O. C. Nature 328, 596–600 (1987).
Piccirilli, J. A. thesis, Harvard Univ. (1989).
Milligan, J. F., Groebe, D. R., Witherell, G. W. & Uhlenbeck, O. C. Nucleic Acids Res. 15, 8783–8798 (1987).
Coleman, J. E., Martin, C. T. & Muller, D. K. Biochemistry 27, 3966–3974 (1988).
Roy, K. B. & Miles, H. T. Nucleosides Nucleotides 2, 231–242 (1983).
Cobianchi, F. & Wilson, S. H. Meth. Enzym. 152, 94–110 (1987).
Leary, J. L., Brigati, D. J. & Ward, D. C. Proc. natn Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 80, 4045–4049 (1983).
Chen, T. R., Churchill, M. E. A. Tullius, T. D. Kallenbach, N. R. & Seemann, N. C. Biochemistry 27, 6032–6038 (1988).
Noren, C. J., Anthony-Cahill, S. J., Griffith, M. C. & Schultz, P. G. Science 244, 182–188 (1989).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Piccirilli, J., Benner, S., Krauch, T. et al. Enzymatic incorporation of a new base pair into DNA and RNA extends the genetic alphabet. Nature 343, 33–37 (1990). https://doi.org/10.1038/343033a0
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/343033a0
This article is cited by
-
A unified Watson-Crick geometry drives transcription of six-letter expanded DNA alphabets by E. coli RNA polymerase
Nature Communications (2023)
-
Structural basis of transcription recognition of a hydrophobic unnatural base pair by T7 RNA polymerase
Nature Communications (2023)
-
Complementary base pair interactions between different rare tautomers of the second-generation artificial genetic alphabets
Journal of Molecular Modeling (2023)
-
Identifying the wide diversity of extraterrestrial purine and pyrimidine nucleobases in carbonaceous meteorites
Nature Communications (2022)
-
Total RNA Synthesis and its Covalent Labeling Innovation
Topics in Current Chemistry (2022)
Comments
By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.
