A New Pyrimidine Base from Bacteriophage Nucleic Acids
Abstract
THE pyrimidine cytosine1 and its deoxynucleotide2 have been reported as constituents of the deoxyribonucleic acids of coliphages T2 and T6 respectively, but in another analysis of T23 no cytosine could be found. We have now resolved this discrepancy by isolation from T-even bacteriophages of a new pyrimidine base, identified as 5-hydroxymethyl-cytosine, which was previously mistaken for cytosine or missed. A nucleotide has now also been isolated which gives rise to this base on hydrolysis4.
- Publication:
-
Nature
- Pub Date:
- December 1952
- DOI:
- 10.1038/1701072a0
- Bibcode:
- 1952Natur.170.1072W