2,6-Diaminopurine
chemical compound
2,6-diaminopurine (2,6-DAP, also known as 2-aminoadenine, standard IUPAC symbol n2A) is a compound once used in the treatment of leukemia. It is found instead of adenine (A) in the genetic material of some bacteriophage viruses,
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.
Abbreviations
In virology it is referred to as the "Z" base. However, "Z" refers instead to 6-amino-5-nitropyridin-2-one in the Artificially Expanded Genetic Information System (AEGIS), so context is required to differentiate. AEGIS refers to this base as "AminoA" instead.
It has also been called the "D" base, but the more common interpretation of "D" is dihydrouridine.
In viruses
In cyanophage S-2L (Siphoviridae), diaminopurine is used instead of adenine (host evasion). 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.
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