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Updated: Jul 16, 2026

Design and Synthesis of a Reconfigurable DNA Accordion Rack
Published on: August 15, 2018
Synthesis and properties of size-expanded DNAs: toward designed, functional genetic systems
Andrew T Krueger1, Haige Lu, Alex H F Lee
1Department of Chemistry, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305, USA.
Abstract:
We describe the design, synthesis, and properties of DNA-like molecules in which the base pairs are expanded by benzo homologation. The resulting size-expanded genetic helices are called xDNA ("expanded DNA") and yDNA ("wide DNA"). The large component bases are fluorescent, and they display high stacking affinity. When singly substituted into natural DNA, they are destabilizing because the benzo-expanded base pair size is too large for the natural helix. However, when all base pairs are expanded, xDNA and yDNA form highly stable, sequence-selective double helices. The size-expanded DNAs are candidates for components of new, functioning genetic systems. In addition, the fluorescence of expanded DNA bases makes them potentially useful in probing nucleic acids.
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