Enzymatic incorporation of a new base pair into DNA and RNA extends the genetic alphabet

J A Piccirilli; T Krauch; S E Moroney; S A Benner

doi:10.1038/343033a0

Enzymatic incorporation of a new base pair into DNA and RNA extends the genetic alphabet

Nature. 1990 Jan 4;343(6253):33-7. doi: 10.1038/343033a0.

Authors

J A Piccirilli¹, T Krauch, S E Moroney, S A Benner

Affiliation

¹ Laboratory for Organic Chemistry, ETH Zurich, Switzerland.

PMID: 1688644
DOI: 10.1038/343033a0

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.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Base Sequence
DNA / genetics*
DNA-Directed DNA Polymerase / metabolism
DNA-Directed RNA Polymerases / metabolism
Genetic Code*
Hydrogen Bonding
Molecular Sequence Data
Nucleic Acid Conformation
Purine Nucleotides / chemical synthesis
Pyrimidine Nucleotides / chemical synthesis
RNA / genetics*
Viral Proteins

Substances

Purine Nucleotides
Pyrimidine Nucleotides
Viral Proteins
RNA
DNA
bacteriophage T7 RNA polymerase
DNA-Directed RNA Polymerases
DNA-Directed DNA Polymerase