Structure and K+ ion-dependent stability of a parallel-stranded DNA quadruplex containing a core A-tetrad

Org Biomol Chem. 2004 Mar 21;2(6):810-2. doi: 10.1039/b314559j. Epub 2004 Feb 18.

Abstract

The c-MYC oncogene, containing the DNA 5'-GGAGG repeat sequence, is emerging as an attractive target for anti-cancer therapeutics with evidence to suggest that DNA quadruplex formation is involved in regulating gene transcription. We describe NMR studies and molecular dynamics (MD) simulations on intermolecular quadruplex structures containing the purine-rich GGAGG motif which we show readily assembles to form stable parallel-stranded quadruplexes containing A- and G-tetrads with evidence for weak sequence-specific K(+) ion binding at the 5'-GA step.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Antineoplastic Agents / pharmacology*
  • Base Sequence
  • Binding Sites
  • Cations
  • DNA / chemistry*
  • DNA / metabolism
  • G-Quadruplexes
  • Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy
  • Molecular Structure
  • Nucleic Acid Conformation
  • Potassium / chemistry*
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myc / chemistry
  • Purines / chemistry
  • Repetitive Sequences, Nucleic Acid*

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Cations
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myc
  • Purines
  • DNA
  • Potassium
  • purine