Central OC Times

A research team from the University of California, Irvine has developed a new enzyme capable of producing threose nucleic acid (TNA), a synthetic genetic material. This advancement is expected to enhance therapeutic options for cancer and other diseases.

The study, published in Nature Catalysis, details the creation of an enzyme named 10-92 that facilitates TNA synthesis. "This achievement represents a major milestone in the evolution of synthetic biology," said John Chaput, UC Irvine professor of pharmaceutical sciences. He added that TNA's biostability allows it to be used in a wider range of treatments compared to DNA.

The team employed homologous recombination to produce the 10-92 TNA polymerase by rearranging polymerase fragments from related species of archaebacteria. Through evolutionary cycles, they identified variants with increased activity.

"Drugs of the future could look very different than those we use today," Chaput stated. He emphasized TNA's potential as a candidate for developing new treatments like therapeutic aptamers.

Graduate students Victoria A. Maola, Eric J. Yik, Mohammad Hajjar; project scientist Nicholas Chim; and undergraduates Joy J. Lee, Kalvin K. Nguyen, Jenny V. Medina, Riley N. Quijano, Manuel J. Holguin and Katherine L. Ho contributed to this research at UC Irvine’s Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences.

The project received support from the National Science Foundation under award MCB1946312. A patent application has been filed by John Chaput and others on the composition and activity of the 10-92 TNA polymerase.

UC Irvine's Brilliant Future campaign seeks to raise awareness and support for university initiatives such as student success and health research through philanthropic investment.

Founded in 1965, UC Irvine is recognized among top public universities in the U.S., known for its academic achievements and innovation.