title: Towards the replication of xDNA, a size-expanded unnatural genetic system.
abstract: Here we study the viability of an unnatural genetic system with size-expanded geometry (xDNA). xDNA contains base pairs 2.4 A larger than those of natural DNA. The expanded geometry is expected to be problematic for the natural high-fidelity replication machinery required to process genetic information. However, initial studies with a variety of DNA polymerases are promising in demonstrating replication of these unnatural bases. The results suggest the future possible viability of fully functional unnatural genetic systems, and give insight into the steric limits of some natural DNA polymerases.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Andrew T
authors.initials: AT
authors.lastname: Krueger
authors.forename: Haige
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.forename: Torben
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Højland
authors.forename: Haibo
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Jianmin
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.forename: Eric T
authors.initials: ET
authors.lastname: Kool
mesh_terms: D020029:Base Pairing; D004247:DNA / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000737:chemistry*; D004261:DNA Replication; D004259:DNA-Directed DNA Polymerase / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D004247:DNA; D004259:DNA-Directed DNA Polymerase