History of Nucleic Acid Chemistry: Difference between revisions
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=== Milestones === | === Milestones === | ||
==== Isolation of DNA ==== | ==== 1869 – Isolation of DNA ==== | ||
The person credited with being the first to isolate DNA was the Swiss physician Friedrich Miescher. He called the biochemical substance rich in phosphorus "nuclein". The initial work is dated as having occurred in early 1869.<ref>R. Dahm, Friedrich Miescher and the discovery of DNA. Devel. Biol. 2005, 278, 274-288. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ydbio.2004.11.028</ref> Miescher worked at the University of Tübingen at the time, and did not know what the function of nuclein was. | The person credited with being the first to isolate DNA was the Swiss physician Friedrich Miescher. He called the biochemical substance rich in phosphorus "nuclein". The initial work is dated as having occurred in early 1869.<ref>R. Dahm, Friedrich Miescher and the discovery of DNA. Devel. Biol. 2005, 278, 274-288. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ydbio.2004.11.028</ref> Miescher worked at the University of Tübingen at the time, and did not know what the function of nuclein was. | ||
==== Structure of the DNA double helix ==== | ==== 1944 – DNA carries genetic information==== | ||
Avery determines that DNA carries genetic information. | |||
==== 1953 – Structure of the DNA double helix ==== | |||
The correct structure of the DNA double helix was published by Watson and Crick in two milestone papers in 1957.<ref>Watson, J. D.; Crick, F. H. Molecular structure of nucleic acids; a structure for deoxyribose nucleic acid. ''Nature'' '''1953''', ''171'', 737-738. https://doi.org/10.1038/171737a0</ref><ref>Watson, J. D.; Crick, F. H. Genetical implications of the structure of deoxyribonucleic acid. ''Nature'' '''1953''', ''171'', 964-967. https://doi.org/10.1038/171964b0 | The correct structure of the DNA double helix was published by Watson and Crick in two milestone papers in 1957.<ref>Watson, J. D.; Crick, F. H. Molecular structure of nucleic acids; a structure for deoxyribose nucleic acid. ''Nature'' '''1953''', ''171'', 737-738. https://doi.org/10.1038/171737a0</ref><ref>Watson, J. D.; Crick, F. H. Genetical implications of the structure of deoxyribonucleic acid. ''Nature'' '''1953''', ''171'', 964-967. https://doi.org/10.1038/171964b0 | ||
</ref> The diffraction data was not from their own work, and the G:C base pair was incorrectly assumed to have only two hydrogen bonds. Still, the structure was a major breakthrough, as it explained how genetic information is stored and passed on to the next generation. | </ref> The diffraction data was not from their own work, and the G:C base pair was incorrectly assumed to have only two hydrogen bonds. Still, the structure was a major breakthrough, as it explained how genetic information is stored and passed on to the next generation. | ||
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File:Adenine Thymine base pair.png|Depiction of the A:T base pair. | File:Adenine Thymine base pair.png|Depiction of the A:T base pair. | ||
</gallery> | </gallery> | ||
==== Polymerase Chain Reaction ==== | |||
==== 1956 – Phosphodiester chemistry ==== | |||
Khorana et al. establish phosphodiester chemistry for chain assembly in solution. | |||
==== 1965 – Phosphotriester chemistry ==== | |||
Letsinger and coworkers develop phosphotriester chemistry as improved method for solution-phase synthesis of DNA. | |||
==== 1970 – First synthesis of a gene ==== | |||
Khorana publishes the first synthesis of a gene (yeast alanine tRNA, 72mer via 19 fragments). | |||
==== 1977 – Solid phase DNA synthesis on polymeric support ==== | |||
Gait and Sheppard perform solid-phase DNA synthesis on a polymeric support. | |||
==== 1981 – Phosphoramidite approach ==== | |||
Building on the work of Letsinger, Beaucage and Caruthers demonstrate the superiority of the phosphoramidite approach. | |||
==== 1984 – β-cyanoethyl phosphoramidite chemistry ==== | |||
Köster and Sinha patent ß-cyanoethyl phosphoramidite chemistry. | |||
==== 1987 – 2'-o-TBDMS protection for RNA ==== | |||
Ogilvie reports 2´-O-TBDMS protection for RNA building blocks. | |||
==== 1994 – Polymerase Chain Reaction ==== | |||
The polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was invented in the early 1980s by Kary B. Mullis while employed by Cetus Corporation. Mullis was awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry for his discovery in 1993.<ref>Mullis, K. B. The Polymerase Chain Reaction (Nobel Lecture). ''Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. Engl.'' '''1994''', ''33'', 1209-1213.</ref><ref>Process for amplifying nucleic acid sequences. US Patent US4683202A, filed on October 25, 1985.</ref> | The polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was invented in the early 1980s by Kary B. Mullis while employed by Cetus Corporation. Mullis was awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry for his discovery in 1993.<ref>Mullis, K. B. The Polymerase Chain Reaction (Nobel Lecture). ''Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. Engl.'' '''1994''', ''33'', 1209-1213.</ref><ref>Process for amplifying nucleic acid sequences. US Patent US4683202A, filed on October 25, 1985.</ref> | ||
== References == | == References == | ||
<references /> | <references /> | ||
Revision as of 17:39, 25 September 2024
The History of Nucleic Acid Chemistry
Milestones
1869 – Isolation of DNA
The person credited with being the first to isolate DNA was the Swiss physician Friedrich Miescher. He called the biochemical substance rich in phosphorus "nuclein". The initial work is dated as having occurred in early 1869.[1] Miescher worked at the University of Tübingen at the time, and did not know what the function of nuclein was.
1944 – DNA carries genetic information
Avery determines that DNA carries genetic information.
1953 – Structure of the DNA double helix
The correct structure of the DNA double helix was published by Watson and Crick in two milestone papers in 1957.[2][3] The diffraction data was not from their own work, and the G:C base pair was incorrectly assumed to have only two hydrogen bonds. Still, the structure was a major breakthrough, as it explained how genetic information is stored and passed on to the next generation.
Structure of base pairs:
-
Depiction of the G:C base pair with the hydrogen bond not yet identified in the 1957 paper highlighted in red.
-
Depiction of the A:T base pair.
1956 – Phosphodiester chemistry
Khorana et al. establish phosphodiester chemistry for chain assembly in solution.
1965 – Phosphotriester chemistry
Letsinger and coworkers develop phosphotriester chemistry as improved method for solution-phase synthesis of DNA.
1970 – First synthesis of a gene
Khorana publishes the first synthesis of a gene (yeast alanine tRNA, 72mer via 19 fragments).
1977 – Solid phase DNA synthesis on polymeric support
Gait and Sheppard perform solid-phase DNA synthesis on a polymeric support.
1981 – Phosphoramidite approach
Building on the work of Letsinger, Beaucage and Caruthers demonstrate the superiority of the phosphoramidite approach.
1984 – β-cyanoethyl phosphoramidite chemistry
Köster and Sinha patent ß-cyanoethyl phosphoramidite chemistry.
1987 – 2'-o-TBDMS protection for RNA
Ogilvie reports 2´-O-TBDMS protection for RNA building blocks.
1994 – Polymerase Chain Reaction
The polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was invented in the early 1980s by Kary B. Mullis while employed by Cetus Corporation. Mullis was awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry for his discovery in 1993.[4][5]
References
- ↑ R. Dahm, Friedrich Miescher and the discovery of DNA. Devel. Biol. 2005, 278, 274-288. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ydbio.2004.11.028
- ↑ Watson, J. D.; Crick, F. H. Molecular structure of nucleic acids; a structure for deoxyribose nucleic acid. Nature 1953, 171, 737-738. https://doi.org/10.1038/171737a0
- ↑ Watson, J. D.; Crick, F. H. Genetical implications of the structure of deoxyribonucleic acid. Nature 1953, 171, 964-967. https://doi.org/10.1038/171964b0
- ↑ Mullis, K. B. The Polymerase Chain Reaction (Nobel Lecture). Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. Engl. 1994, 33, 1209-1213.
- ↑ Process for amplifying nucleic acid sequences. US Patent US4683202A, filed on October 25, 1985.