Polymerase Recognition of a Watson–Crick‐Like Metal‐Mediated Base Pair: Purine‐2,6‐Dicarboxylate⋅Copper(II)⋅ Pyridine

Abstract

A new beginning: A Cu2+-mediated Watson–Crick-like base pair was recognized by nine out of ten DNA polymerases studied. The purine-2,6-dicarboxylate⋅Cu2+⋅3-pyridine base pair was formed in the presence Cu2+ ions, but not in the absence of copper. It is concluded that metal-ion mediated bonding interactions are sufficient for non-canonical base-pair synthesis by enzymes.