2,6-diaminopurine (2,6-DAP, also known as 2-aminoadenine) is a compound once used in the treatment of leukemia.[1] As the Z base, it is found instead of adenine (A) in the genetic material of some bacteriophage viruses.[2]
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Names | |
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IUPAC name
7H-purine-2,6-diamine | |
Other names
2-aminoadenine; 2,6-DAP | |
Identifiers | |
3D model (JSmol) |
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ChEMBL | |
ChemSpider | |
ECHA InfoCard | 100.016.006 |
PubChem CID |
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UNII | |
CompTox Dashboard (EPA) |
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Properties | |
C5H6N6 | |
Molar mass | 150.145 g·mol−1 |
Appearance | White to yellow crystalline powder |
Density | 1.743 g/cm3 |
Melting point | 117 to 122 °C (243 to 252 °F; 390 to 395 K) |
2.38 g/L at 20 °C | |
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa).
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In August 2011, a report, based on NASA studies with meteorites found on Earth, was published suggesting 2,6-diaminopurine and related organic molecules, including the DNA and RNA components adenine and guanine, may have been formed extraterrestrially in outer space.[3][4][5]
In viruses
![Thumb](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/2a/DiampurineT_DNA_base_pair.svg/640px-DiampurineT_DNA_base_pair.svg.png)
In cyanophage S-2L (Siphoviridae), diaminopurine is used instead of adenine (host evasion).[6] Diaminopurine base (Z) pairs perfectly with thymine (T) as it is identical to adenine (A) but has an amine group at position 2 forming 3 intermolecular hydrogen bonds, eliminating the major difference between the two types of basepairs (weak:A-T and strong:C-G). This improved stability affects protein-binding interactions that rely on those differences.
Four papers published April 2021 further describes the use and production of the Z-base. It is now known that:[7]
- The S-2L phage avoids incorporating A bases in the genome by hydrolyzing dATP (DatZ enzyme);[8]
- The Z base is produced by a pathway involving DUF550 (MazZ) and PurZ in S-2L and Vibrio phage PhiVC8;[9]
- The PrimPol/AEP DNA polymerase responsible for handling the Z base occurs in the same gene cluster as the three aforementioned enzymes;[10]
- The Z base is quite widespread in both Siphoviridae and Podoviridae, based on the occurrence of the said gene cluster.[11]
In August 2021, it was shown that DatZ, MazZ and PurZ are sufficient to replace some occurrence of A by Z in the bacterial genome of E. coli; expression of this system is toxic to the cell. The structures of MazZ (subtype 2) and PurZ are also determined, showing a possible link between PurZ and archaeal versions of PurA.[12]
Biosynthesis
2-aminoadenine is produced in two steps. The enzyme MazZ (homologous to MazG, EC 3.6.1.8) first performs:[12]
- dGTP + H2O = dGMP + diphosphate
The enzyme PurZ (homologous to PurA, EC 6.3.4.4) then performs:[9]
- (d)ATP + dGMP + L-aspartate = (d)ADP + phosphate + 2-aminodeoxyadenylosuccinate (dSMP)
The resulting dSMP is processed by host enzymes analogously to adenylosuccinate to produce dZTP.
In cellular life
This article is missing information about results of the altered H-bond strength in DNA and RNA. (October 2021) |
2,6-DAP was used to treat leukemia since as early as 1951.[13] It is known to arrest progression of cell cycle in mouse leukemia cells by 1989.[14] Cancer cells are known to become resistant to DAP by losing their adenine phosphoribosyltransferase (APRT) function,[15] a process shared with E. coli.[16]
DAP derivatives are in vitro antivirals useful against pseudorabies virus, a economically important livestock disease.[17] This base, in its free form, is able to correct UGA nonsense mutations by encouraging translational readthrough, through the inhibition of FTSJ1.[18]
Bioengineering
In bioengineering, anti-miRNA oligonucleotides (specifically, the serinol nucleic acid [SNA] type) incorporating base Z instead of A show enhanced binding to RNA.[19]
DAP is used similarly to other nuclear acid analogues in the investigation of enzyme structures and mechanisms.[20]
References
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