Small molecules selectively targeting four-stranded DNA could lead to anticancer drugs without the toxic side-effects, say scientists in the UK. Quadruplex DNA is a four-strand form of the biomolecule and is associated with cancer cell replication. Stephen Neidle and William Drewe at the University of London designed a series of diphenyl urea-based structures that bind strongly to quadruplex DNA but have low affinity for duplex DNA - the two strand double helix. This selectivity means the molecules aren't toxic to healthy cells, and could specifically knock out cancer cell growth, says Neidle.
展开▼
