PubMed · 15740086
An in vitro selection system for TNA.
Abstract
(3'-2')-alpha-l-Threose nucleic acid (TNA) is an unnatural polymer that possesses the rare ability to base-pair with RNA, DNA, and itself. This feature, coupled with its chemical simplicity, makes TNA of interest as a possible progenitor of RNA during the early history of life. To evaluate the functional potential of TNA, we have developed a system for the in vitro selection of TNA. We identified the Therminator DNA polymerase as a remarkably efficient DNA-dependent TNA polymerase capable of polymerizing more than 50 tNTPs. We have also developed a method of covalently linking a DNA template to the TNA strand that it encodes, thus obviating the need for a TNA-dependent DNA polymerase during cycles of selection.
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Justin K Ichida, Keyong Zou, Allen Horhota, Biao Yu, Larry W McLaughlin, Jack W Szostak. 2005-03-09. An in vitro selection system for TNA.. https://doi.org/10.1021/ja045364w
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