These Bacteria Use New DNA Bases to Make a Protein Not Found in Nature

Researchers at Scripp's Research Institute have used semi-synthetic bacteria to incorporate unnatural bases in their genetic code, allowing them to make amino acids that code for proteins that do not exist in nature. These two new bases were made using chemicals called dNaM and dTPT3 and were named X and Y. E.coli was first used to copy the unnatural bases and only recently were they able to be stored and passed on to daughter cells. The interesting thing about these new bases is that the RNA was able to transcribe them and incorporate unnatural amino acids that would code for a protein. This ability was used to create an alternative green fluorescent protein. This constructed protein was not functionally different from the original, however the new base pairs contributed to every stage of recovering information from the genetic code and using it to build proteins. Researchers hope to use this new technology in medicine to rework a molecule.

https://singularityhub.com/2017/12/07/these-bacteria-use-new-dna-bases-to-make-a-protein-not-found-in-nature/

http://www.iflscience.com/plants-and-animals/scientists-describe-potential-new-addition-dna-code/