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Publication Abstract from PubMed

Targeting the interface between DNA quadruplex and duplex regions by small molecules holds significant promise in both therapeutics and nanotechnology. Herein, a new pharmacophore is reported, which selectively binds with high affinity to quadruplex-duplex junctions, while presenting a poorer affinity for G-quadruplex or duplex DNA alone. Ligands complying with the reported pharmacophore exhibit a significant affinity and selectivity for quadruplex-duplex junctions, including the one observed in the HIV-1 LTR-III sequence. The structure of the complex between a quadruplex-duplex junction with a ligand of this family has been determined by NMR methods. According to these data, the remarkable selectivity of this structural motif for quadruplex-duplex junctions is achieved through an unprecedented interaction mode so far unexploited in medicinal and biological chemistry: the insertion of a benzylic ammonium moiety into the centre of the partially exposed G-tetrad at the interface with the duplex. Further decoration of the described scaffolds with additional fragments opens up the road to the development of selective ligands for G-quadruplex-forming regions of the genome.

De Novo Design of Selective Quadruplex-Duplex Junction Ligands and Structural Characterisation of Their Binding Mode: Targeting the G4 Hot-Spot.,Diaz-Casado L, Serrano-Chacon I, Montalvillo-Jimenez L, Corzana F, Bastida A, Santana AG, Gonzalez C, Asensio JL Chemistry. 2020 Dec 25. doi: 10.1002/chem.202005026. PMID:33368678^[1]

From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.