Implication of the solvent effect, metal ions and topology in the electronic structure and hydrogen bonding of human telomeric G-quadruplex DNA

2016 ◽  
Vol 18 (31) ◽  
pp. 21573-21585 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lokendra Poudel ◽  
Nicole F. Steinmetz ◽  
Roger H. French ◽  
V. Adrian Parsegian ◽  
Rudolf Podgornik ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Hydrogen Bonding ◽  
Electronic Structure ◽  
Metal Ions ◽  
Density Functional ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Functional Study ◽  
Quadruplex Dna ◽  
And Topology ◽  
G4 Dna ◽  
G Quadruplex

First-principles density functional study elucidating the effects of solvent, metal ions and topology on the electronic structure and hydrogen bonding of 12 well-designed three dimensional G-quadruplex (G4-DNA) models.

scholarly journals ATRX promotes heterochromatin formation to protect cells from G-quadruplex DNA-mediated stress

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yu-Ching Teng ◽  
Aishwarya Sundaresan ◽  
Ryan O’Hara ◽  
Vincent U. Gant ◽  
Minhua Li ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Dna Sequences ◽  
Genome Stability ◽  
Helicase Domain ◽  
Quadruplex Dna ◽  
Heterochromatin Formation ◽  
Replicative Stress ◽  
G4 Dna ◽  
Mutation Burden ◽  
G Quadruplex ◽  
Dna Replication Stress

AbstractATRX is a tumor suppressor that has been associated with protection from DNA replication stress, purportedly through resolution of difficult-to-replicate G-quadruplex (G4) DNA structures. While several studies demonstrate that loss of ATRX sensitizes cells to chemical stabilizers of G4 structures, the molecular function of ATRX at G4 regions during replication remains unknown. Here, we demonstrate that ATRX associates with a number of the MCM replication complex subunits and that loss of ATRX leads to G4 structure accumulation at newly synthesized DNA. We show that both the helicase domain of ATRX and its H3.3 chaperone function are required to protect cells from G4-induced replicative stress. Furthermore, these activities are upstream of heterochromatin formation mediated by the histone methyltransferase, ESET, which is the critical molecular event that protects cells from G4-mediated stress. In support, tumors carrying mutations in either ATRX or ESET show increased mutation burden at G4-enriched DNA sequences. Overall, our study provides new insights into mechanisms by which ATRX promotes genome stability with important implications for understanding impacts of its loss on human disease.

scholarly journals Subtle structural alterations in G-quadruplex DNA regulate site specificity of fluorescence light-up probes

2020 ◽  
Vol 48 (3) ◽  
pp. 1108-1119 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rajendra Kumar ◽  
Karam Chand ◽  
Sudipta Bhowmik ◽  
Rabindra Nath Das ◽  
Snehasish Bhattacharjee ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Rational Design ◽  
Dna Structure ◽  
Biological Processes ◽  
Chemical Research ◽  
Quadruplex Dna ◽  
Dna Structures ◽  
Future Studies ◽  
G4 Dna ◽  
G Quadruplex ◽  
Fluorescence Light

Abstract G-quadruplex (G4) DNA structures are linked to key biological processes and human diseases. Small molecules that target specific G4 DNA structures and signal their presence would therefore be of great value as chemical research tools with potential to further advance towards diagnostic and therapeutic developments. However, the development of these types of specific compounds remain as a great challenge. In here, we have developed a compound with ability to specifically signal a certain c-MYC G4 DNA structure through a fluorescence light-up mechanism. Despite the compound's two binding sites on the G4 DNA structure, only one of them result in the fluorescence light-up effect. This G-tetrad selectivity proved to originate from a difference in flexibility that affected the binding affinity and tilt the compound out of the planar conformation required for the fluorescence light-up mechanism. The intertwined relation between the presented factors is likely the reason for the lack of examples using rational design to develop compounds with turn-on emission that specifically target certain G4 DNA structures. However, this study shows that it is indeed possible to develop such compounds and present insights into the molecular details of specific G4 DNA recognition and signaling to advance future studies of G4 biology.

scholarly journals G-quadruplex DNA drives genomic instability and represents a targetable molecular abnormality in ATRX-deficient malignant glioma

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yuxiang Wang ◽  
Jie Yang ◽  
Wei Wu ◽  
Rachna Shah ◽  
Carla Danussi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Dna Damage ◽  
Malignant Glioma ◽  
Model Systems ◽  
Copy Number Alterations ◽  
Molecular Alteration ◽  
Quadruplex Dna ◽  
G4 Dna ◽  
G Quadruplex

AbstractMutational inactivation of ATRX (α-thalassemia mental retardation X-linked) represents a defining molecular alteration in large subsets of malignant glioma. Yet the pathogenic consequences of ATRX deficiency remain unclear, as do tractable mechanisms for its therapeutic targeting. Here we report that ATRX loss in isogenic glioma model systems induces replication stress and DNA damage by way of G-quadruplex (G4) DNA secondary structure. Moreover, these effects are associated with the acquisition of disease-relevant copy number alterations over time. We then demonstrate, both in vitro and in vivo, that ATRX deficiency selectively enhances DNA damage and cell death following chemical G4 stabilization. Finally, we show that G4 stabilization synergizes with other DNA-damaging therapies, including ionizing radiation, in the ATRX-deficient context. Our findings reveal novel pathogenic mechanisms driven by ATRX deficiency in glioma, while also pointing to tangible strategies for drug development.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document