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PMID: 19318205 Published · ppublish English Journal Article Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural Review

Redesigning the architecture of the base pair: toward biochemical and biological function of new genetic sets.

Chemistry & biology ·Vol. 16 ·No. 3 ·2009-03-27 ·Pages 242-8

Krueger AT, Kool ET

Abstract

Recognition of the nucleic acid bases within the DNA scaffold comprises the basis for transmission of genetic information, dictating protein and cell assembly, organismal development, and evolution. Driven in part by the need to test our current understanding of this information transfer, chemists have begun to design and synthesize nonnatural bases and base pair structures to mimic the function of DNA without relying on Nature's purine-pyrimidine base pair scaffold. Multiple examples have been recently described that self-assemble stably and sequence specifically in vitro, and some isolated unnatural base pairs can be replicated in vitro as well. Moreover, recent experiments with unnatural bases in bacterial cells have demonstrated surprisingly efficient reading of the chemical information. This suggests the future possibility of redesigning and replacing the chemical information of an evolving cell while retaining biological function.

MeSH Terms
Base Pairing Biomimetics DNA/chemistry,metabolism Genetic Engineering Genetic Phenomena Purines/chemistry Pyrimidines/chemistry
Chemicals
Purines Pyrimidines DNA
Authors & Affiliations
2 authors, click to expand affiliations / ORCID
Krueger Andrew T
Department of Chemistry, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305-5080, USA.
Kool Eric T
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Article Info
Journal
Chemistry & biology
Abbr.
Chem Biol
ISSN
1879-1301
DOI
10.1016/j.chembiol.2008.12.004
Published
2009-03-27
Pages
242-8
Language
English
Region
United States
NLM ID
9500160
PMCID
PMC2693216
Subset
IM
Grants
NIGMS NIH HHS · R01 GM063587-05 · United States
NIGMS NIH HHS · R01 GM063587-08 · United States
NIGMS NIH HHS · R01 GM072705 · United States
NIGMS NIH HHS · GM63587 · United States
NIGMS NIH HHS · R01 GM072705-14A1 · United States
NIGMS NIH HHS · R01 GM063587-06 · United States
NIGMS NIH HHS · R01 GM072705-13 · United States
NIGMS NIH HHS · GM072705 · United States
NIGMS NIH HHS · R01 GM063587-07S1 · United States
NIGMS NIH HHS · R01 GM063587 · United States
NIGMS NIH HHS · R01 GM063587-07 · United States
External Links
PubMed source DOI: 10.1016/j.chembiol.2008.12.004 PMC Full Text
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