A MYC sequence forming an intramolecular G-quadruplex with a parallel topology was modified by the incorporation of 8-bromoguanosine (G) analogues in one of its outer G-tetrads. The propensity of the G analogues to adopt a syn glycosidic torsion angle results in an exceptional monomolecular quadruplex conformation featuring a complete flip of one tetrad while keeping a parallel orientation of all G-tracts as shown by circular dichroism and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopic studies. When substituting three of the four G-tetrad residues withG analogues, two coexisting quadruplex conformational isomers with an all-syn and all-anti outer G-quartet are approximately equally populated in solution. A dynamic interconversion of the two quadruplexes with an exchange rate (k) of 0.2 s is demonstrated through the observation of exchange crosspeaks in rotating frame Overhauser effect spectroscopy and nuclear Overhauser effect spectroscopy experiments at 50 °C. The kinetic properties suggest disruption of the corresponding outer G-tetrad but not of the whole quadruplex core during the tetrad flip. Conformational syn-anti isomers with homopolar and heteropolar stacking interactions are nearly isoenergetic with a transition enthalpy of 18.2 kJ/mol in favor of the all-syn isomer.

The oligomer d(GCGTG 3 TCAG 3 TG 3 TG 3 ACGC) with short complementary flanking sequences at the 5'-and 3'ends was shown to fold into three different DNAG-quadruplex species.I nc ontrast, ac orresponding oligomer that lacks base complementarity between the two overhang sequences folds into as ingle parallel G-quadruplex. The three coexisting quadruplex structures were unambiguously identified and structurally characterized through detailed spectral comparisons with well-defined G-quadruplexes formed upon the deliberate incorporation of syn-favoring 8-bromoguanosine analogues into specific positions of the G-core.T wo (3+ +1) hybrid structures coexist with the parallel fold and feature an ovel lateral-propeller-propeller loop architecture that has not yet been confirmed experimentally.B oth hybrid quadruplexes adopt the same topology and only differ in their pattern of anti!syn transitions and tetrad stackings.

The ability to control the folding topology of DNA G‐quadruplexes allows for rational design of quadruplex‐based scaffolds for potential use in various therapeutic and technological applications. By exploiting the distinct conformational properties of some base‐ and sugar‐modified guanosine surrogates, conformational transitions can be induced through their judicious incorporation at specific sites in the quadruplex core. Changes may involve tetrad polarity inversions with conservation of the global fold or complete refolding to new topologies. Reliable predictions relating to low‐energy conformers formed upon specific chemical perturbations of the system and the rational design of modified sequences suffer from our still limited understanding of the subtle interplay of various favorable and unfavorable interactions within a particular quadruplex scaffold. However, aided by an increasing number of systematic substitution experiments and high‐resolution structures of modified quadruplex variants, critical interactions, in addition to glycosidic bond angle propensities, are starting to emerge as important contributors to modification‐driven quadruplex refolding.

Binding of an indoloquinoline derivative with an aminoalkyl side chain to a truncated sequence from the MYC promoter region was studied through isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC). The targeted MYC3 sequence lacks 3'-flanking nucleotides and forms a monomeric parallel quadruplex (G4) with a blunt-ended 3'-outer tetrad under the solution conditions employed. Analysis of ITC isotherms reveals multiple binding equilibria with the initial formation of a 1:2 ligand/quadruplex complex. Evaluation of electrophoretic mobilities as well as NMR spectral data confirm ligand-induced dimerization of MYC3 quadruplexes with the ligand sandwiched between the two 3'-outer tetrads. Additional ligand molecules in excess bind to the 5'-outer tetrads of the sandwich complex. Such a ligand-promoted G4 dimerization may be exploited for the controlled assembly or disassembly of G4 aggregates to expand on present quadruplex-based technologies.

The interactions of a dicarbocyanine dye 3,3'-diethylthiadicarbocyanine, DiSC2(5), with DNA G-quadruplexes were studied by means of a combination of various spectroscopic techniques. Aggregation of excess dye as a result of its positive charge is promoted by the presence of the polyanionic quadruplex structure. Specific high-affinity binding to the parallel quadruplex of the MYC promoter sequence involves stacking of DiSC2(5) on the external G-tetrads; the 5'-terminal tetrad is the favored binding site. Significant energy transfer between DNA and the dye in the UV spectral region is observed upon DiSC2(5) binding. The transfer efficiency strongly depends on the DNA secondary structure as well as on the G-quadruplex topology. These photophysical features enable the selective detection of DNA quadruplexes through sensitized DiSC2(5) fluorescence in the visible region.