Recent Developments in G-Quadruplex Probes

Abstract

Accumulating evidence has linked G-quadruplex structures to a number of biological processes in vivo, including DNA replication, transcription, and genomic maintenance. However, the precise function and mechanism of G-quadruplex formation in mammalian cells remains poorly defined. Therefore, the development of small-molecule G-quadruplex probes has attracted significant attention in recent years. This review highlights examples of G-quadruplex probes that have been reported over the last few years, some of which have been employed for cellular imaging or for use in the construction of G-quadruplex-based analytical sensing platforms.

A Water‐Soluble Tetraazaperopyrene Dye as Strong G‐Quadruplex DNA Binder

“…Indeed, G‐quadruplex formation has been shown to hinder telomerase activity, but in addition it is implicated in the regulation of gene expression and quadruplex structures have thus become a potential target in oncology . A range of small molecules has been shown to strongly bind and stabilise such G‐quadruplex structures, thereby rendering these compounds potential anticancer drugs . Recent findings, such as the fact that parallel quadruplexes can still act as a substrate for telomerase, suggest, however, that indirect telomerase inhibition is not necessarily the dominant contribution in anticancer activity of quadruplex‐binding ligands.…”

Quinazoline derivative QPB-15e stabilizes the c-myc promoter G-quadruplex and inhibits tumor growth in vivo

“…G-quadruplex DNA is a type of secondary DNA structure that originates from the assembly of four guanine (G)-rich DNA strands together as a G-quartet [9]. G-quadruplex DNA was discovered in eukaryotic telomere and oncogene promoters through a G-quadruplex-specific antibody and was shown to be a potential small molecule target [10–11].…”

Phosphate-perylene modified G-quadruplex probes for the detection of Pb2+ using fluorescence anisotropy

“…[1][2][3][4][5] Different metal ions, such as K + and Pb 2+ , have been reported as analytes of G-quadruplex-based probes. [1][2][3][4][5] Different metal ions, such as K + and Pb 2+ , have been reported as analytes of G-quadruplex-based probes.…”

“…13 Pb 2+ could also induce the change of non-covalent interactions between G-quadruplexes and some dyes (such as TC-P4, 14 thiazole orange, 15 cationic perylene derivative, 16 zinc protoporphyrin IX 17 and N-methylmesoporphyrin IX 18,19 ), which led to the obvious variations of UV-Vis absorption and/or fluorescence emission as well as photocurrent response. Wang et al applied the 5 0 -terminal FAM-labeled T30695 G-quadruplex sequence [d(GGGT) 4 ] for Pb 2+ detection. Wang et al applied the 5 0 -terminal FAM-labeled T30695 G-quadruplex sequence [d(GGGT) 4 ] for Pb 2+ detection.…”

“…22 Fluorescence anisotropy (FA) is a powerful, simple, accurate and sensitive analytical technique that has been applied in many areas, 23-28 including investigation of oligonucleotide structural variation. 4 Therefore, new modified strategies on G-quadruplexes with little interruption to their structure as well as binding affinity and/or selectivity to analytes are needed. Zhang et al attached 6-carboxytetramethylrhodamine (TMR) to the 5 0 -position of the thymine of a G-quadruplex probe that was applied for Pb 2+ detection as a turn-off sensor through TMR fluorescence anisotropy.…”