Bend and stretch…︁ bend and stretch…︁ An azobenzene derivative was used to induce reversible stretching and folding of G‐quadruplex DNA upon photoirradiation (see picture). The G quadruplex formed in the presence of the trans isomer was dissociated by irradiation with UV light, and the resulting open oligomer was refolded into a G quadruplex under visible light. This nanodevice thus converts light directly into mechanical work.

H3PO4 activated Typha angustifolia and Salix matsudana carbons provide good adsorption/desorption characteristics for Cd and Pb.

Fluorogenic hydroxylamine reagents were used for detecting 5-fC through a labeling pathway. Chemical synthesis, HPLC, denaturing PAGE, and DNA MS were applied to testify that the probe reacted with 5-fC with oligodeoxynucleotide selectivity to achieve 5-fC detection conveniently and quantificationally with the method of fluorescence. The feasibility of fluorescently detecting 5-fC in a genome was also investigated.

Existence of G-quadruplex DNA in vivo always attract widespread interest in the field of biology and biological chemistry. We reported our findings for the existence of G-quadruplex structures in promoter region of oncogenes confirmed by G-quadruplex DNA cross-linking strategy. Probes for selective G-quadruplex cross-linking was designed and synthesized that show high selectivity for G-quadruplex cross-linking. Further biological studies demonstrated its good inhibition activity against murine melanoma cells. To further investigate if G-quadruplex DNA was formed in vivo and as the target, a derivative was synthesized and pull-down process toward chromosome DNAs combined with circular dichroism and high throughput deep sequencing were performed. Several simulated intracellular conditions, including X. laevis oocytes, Ficoll 70 and PEG, was used to investigate the compound's pure cross-linking ability upon preformed G-quadruplex. Thus, as a potent G-quadruplex cross-linking agent, our strategy provided both valuable evidence of G-quadruplex structures in vivo and intense potential in anti-cancer therapy.

AAN effective sensor: The two-photon turn-on fluorescent probe NHU was synthesized to optically detect tyrosinase activity in vitro and in melanoma cells. NHU is composed of a 4-aminophenol moiety and a naphthylamine unit, both of which are connected through a urea linkage. Upon exposure to tyrosinase, the 4-aminophenol site is gradually oxidized to the corresponding orthoquinone, ultimately releasing the highly fluorescent product 6-acyl-N-methyl-2-naphthylamine (AAN).