title: Comment on "A bacterium that can grow by using arsenic instead of phosphorus".
abstract: Wolfe-Simon et al. (Research Articles, 3 June 2011, p. 1163; published online 2 December 2010) reported that bacterium GFAJ-1 can substitute arsenic for phosphorus in its macromolecules, including DNA and proteins. If such arseno-DNA exists, then much of the past century of work with arsenate and phosphate chemistry, as well as much of what we think we know about metabolism, will need rewriting.
authors.affiliation: The Westheimer Institute for Science and Technology, 720 South 2nd Avenue, Gainesville, FL 32601, USA. sbenner@ffame.org
authors.forename: Steven A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Benner
mesh_terms: D001149:Arsenates / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D001151:Arsenic / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D044129:Halomonadaceae / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism*; D006868:Hydrolysis; D010710:Phosphates / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D010758:Phosphorus / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D001149:Arsenates; D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D010710:Phosphates; D010758:Phosphorus; D001151:Arsenic; C025657:arsenic acid