Kinetic and Thermodynamic Control of G-Quadruplex Folding

摘要

G-quadruplexes, which are unique four-stranded structures formed by guanine-rich (G-rich) nucleic acids, are enriched in essential regions in genomes and are implicated in the regulation of gene expression at both transcription and translation levels. These structures are becoming promising therapeutic targets against cancer and other diseases. G-quadruplexes are highly polymorphic in their folding topology, which is sensitive to the sequence composition, the loop size, and surrounding environmental factors, such as species of cations, and the presence of chemical ligands and crowding agents. The control of G-quadruplex folding and its physiological relevance is not only important for understanding the in vivo function of a G-quadruplex, but also for developing effective drugs.