Surface-promoted aggregation of amphiphilic quadruplex ligands drives their selectivity for alternative DNA structures

Org Biomol Chem. 2015 Jul 7;13(25):7034-9. doi: 10.1039/c5ob00692a. Epub 2015 Jun 4.

Abstract

Scientists are currently truly committed to enhance the specificity of chemotherapeutics that target DNA. To this end, sequence-specific drugs have progressively given way to structure-specific therapeutics. However, while numerous strategies have been implemented to design high-affinity candidates, strategies devoted to the design of high-selectivity ligands are still rare. Here we report on such an approach via the study of an amphiphilic compound, TEGPy, that self-assembles at a liquid/solid interface to provide nanosized objects that are stable in water. The resulting aggregates, identified through atomic force microscopy measurements, were found to disassemble upon interaction with DNA in a structure-specific manner (quadruplex- versus duplex-DNA). Our results provide a fertile ground for devising new strategies aiming at concomitantly enhancing DNA structural specificity and the water-solubility of aggregation-prone ligands.

MeSH terms

  • DNA / chemistry*
  • G-Quadruplexes
  • Ligands
  • Microscopy, Atomic Force
  • Models, Molecular
  • Nanostructures / chemistry
  • Nanostructures / ultrastructure
  • Nucleic Acid Conformation
  • Porphyrins / chemistry*
  • Surface-Active Agents / chemistry*

Substances

  • Ligands
  • Porphyrins
  • Surface-Active Agents
  • DNA