Kool N ew evidence from the laboratory of Eric Kool, professor of chemistry at the College, shows that the formation of hydrogen bonds between the two rows of bases of DNA is not as important in the DNA process as scientists expected. Instead, shape is paramount. Together, a pair of bases must fit into its assigned space in the larger DNA molecule so that it can serve as a template for identical molecules. Kool's evidence appeared in the June 17 issue of Nature . The bases must fit together for a polymerase enzyme to copy them.
Shape brings fidelity to the process.
This latest paper describes an experiment in which Kool and former postdoctoral associate Tracy Matray designed two radically different shapes for a base pair. Together, the two bases filled about the same space as a conventional pair, fitting within the general structure of DNA, though neither looks anything like a traditional base. It's amazing that although these bases look totally foreign, as long as they fit together properly, like two jigsaw puzzle pieces, enzymes perceive them as part of a DNA molecule and copy them accordingly.