From Phosphorous to Arsenic: Changing the Classic Paradigm for the Structure of Biomolecules

Biomolecules

Ryan Knodle²  Pratima Agarwal¹ 

[1] Department of Biology, Boston University, Boston, MA 02215, USA;Department of Microbiology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523-1052, USA;

关键词: arsenic;    GFAJ-1;    biomolecules;    scientific debate;    elemental substitution;   

DOI  :  10.3390/biom2020282

来源: mdpi

【 摘 要 】

Biomolecules are composed primarily of the elements carbon, nitrogen, hydrogen, oxygen, sulfur, and phosphorus. The structured assembly of these elements forms the basis for proteins, nucleic acids and lipids. However, the recent discovery of a new bacterium, strain GFAJ-1 of the Halomonadaceae, has shaken the classic paradigms for the architecture of life. Mounting evidence supports the claim that these bacteria substitute arsenic for phosphorus in macromolecules. Herein, we provide a brief commentary and fuel the debate related to what may be a most unusual organism.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© 2012 by the authors; licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.