Expands the genetic alphabet: Artificial DNA base pair uses halogen bonds to form stable structures

For the first time, researchers have succeeded in developing an artificial DNA base pair that is based on a different chemical force than natural genetic material. While the common natural DNA building blocks are held together by hydrogen bonds, the new base pair relies on halogen bonds as its central attraction force. These act like tiny, precisely aligned "docking sites" between molecules. The study demonstrates for the first time that such alternative bonds also enable stable DNA structures. It was published under the title "Investigating Halogen Bonds as Pairing Force in an Artificial DNA Base Pair" in the Journal of the American Chemical Society.