2-Aminoadenine is an adenine substituting for a base in S-2L cyanophage DNA

Abstract

THE properties of DNA from viruses acting on blue-green algae (cyanophages) have been studied in only a few instances1,2. It is not known whether these DNA molecules contain any unusual bases3-7 or some modified (methylated) bases known to be present in DNA of many prokaryotes and to be specific for host modification and restriction phenomena. Here we report the isolation and identification of the base 2-aminoadenine and its deoxyribonucleoside from S-2L cyanophage DNA. Some unusual properties of this DNA in which adenine is completely substituted with 2-aminoadenine are described. © 1977 Nature Publishing Group.