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
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
MeSH terms
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Base Sequence
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DNA / genetics*
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DNA-Directed DNA Polymerase / metabolism
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DNA-Directed RNA Polymerases / metabolism
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Genetic Code*
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Hydrogen Bonding
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Molecular Sequence Data
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Nucleic Acid Conformation
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Purine Nucleotides / chemical synthesis
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Pyrimidine Nucleotides / chemical synthesis
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RNA / genetics*
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Viral Proteins
Substances
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Purine Nucleotides
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Pyrimidine Nucleotides
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Viral Proteins
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RNA
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DNA
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bacteriophage T7 RNA polymerase
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DNA-Directed RNA Polymerases
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DNA-Directed DNA Polymerase