UC San Diego Scientists Expand DNA to Eight Letters
PUBLISHED Sep 5, 2026, 1:42 AM ET
Researchers at the University of California San Diego have demonstrated that cellular RNA polymerase can accurately read and transcribe an eight-letter genetic alphabet, doubling the four natural building blocks used by all known life. Led by professor Dong Wang, the team combined biochemical experiments with high-resolution cryo-electron microscopy to image Escherichia coli bacterial enzymes processing synthetic DNA letters. The findings reveal that RNA polymerase recognizes and incorporates synthetic base pairs using the same structural signals as natural DNA. This compatibility enables natural cellular machinery to transcribe expanded genetic information without failure. Previously, the same research group reported that cellular RNA polymerase can recognize synthetic base pairs lacking hydrogen bonds entirely. By detailing how enzymes transcribe non-natural DNA, the study establishes a molecular foundation for future medical and technological applications, including next-generation diagnostics, targeted cancer therapeutics, and custom-engineered biological systems designed to produce compounds not found in nature.
By Emily Rhodes | JQJO News
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UC San Diego published transcription study in Nature Communications on September 2, 2026. https://today.ucsd.edu/story/breakthrough-helps-expand-genetic-alphabet
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