title: Synthesis and properties of size-expanded DNAs: toward designed, functional genetic systems.
abstract: We describe the design, synthesis, and properties of DNA-like molecules in which the base pairs are expanded by benzo homologation. The resulting size-expanded genetic helices are called xDNA ("expanded DNA") and yDNA ("wide DNA"). The large component bases are fluorescent, and they display high stacking affinity. When singly substituted into natural DNA, they are destabilizing because the benzo-expanded base pair size is too large for the natural helix. However, when all base pairs are expanded, xDNA and yDNA form highly stable, sequence-selective double helices. The size-expanded DNAs are candidates for components of new, functioning genetic systems. In addition, the fluorescence of expanded DNA bases makes them potentially useful in probing nucleic acids.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305, USA.
authors.forename: Andrew T
authors.initials: AT
authors.lastname: Krueger
authors.forename: Haige
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.forename: Alex H F
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Eric T
authors.initials: ET
authors.lastname: Kool
mesh_terms: D020029:Base Pairing; D001483:Base Sequence; D001555:Benzene Derivatives / Q000737:chemistry*; D004247:DNA / Q000138:chemical synthesis* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D004259:DNA-Directed DNA Polymerase / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D005453:Fluorescence; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; D008956:Models, Chemical; D009690:Nucleic Acid Conformation; D015341:Nucleic Acid Probes; D013050:Spectrometry, Fluorescence
chemical_list: D001555:Benzene Derivatives; D015341:Nucleic Acid Probes; D004247:DNA; D004259:DNA-Directed DNA Polymerase