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Publication Abstract from PubMed

Small-molecule compounds targeting trinucleotide repeats in DNA have considerable potential as therapeutic or diagnostic agents against many neurological diseases. NiII (Chro)2 (Chro=chromomycin A3) binds specifically to the minor groove of (CCG)n repeats in duplex DNA, with unique fluorescence features that may serve as a probe for disease detection. Crystallographic studies revealed that the specificity originates from the large-scale spatial rearrangement of the DNA structure, including extrusion of consecutive bases and backbone distortions, with a sharp bending of the duplex accompanied by conformational changes in the NiII chelate itself. The DNA deformation of CCG repeats upon binding forms a GGCC tetranucleotide tract, which is recognized by NiII (Chro)2 . The extruded cytosine and last guanine nucleotides form water-mediated hydrogen bonds, which aid in ligand recognition. The recognition can be accounted for by the classic induced-fit paradigm.

Induced-Fit Recognition of CCG Trinucleotide Repeats by a Nickel-Chromomycin Complex Resulting in Large-Scale DNA Deformation.,Tseng WH, Chang CK, Wu PC, Hu NJ, Lee GH, Tzeng CC, Neidle S, Hou MH Angew Chem Int Ed Engl. 2017 Jul 17;56(30):8761-8765. doi:, 10.1002/anie.201703989. Epub 2017 Jun 14. PMID:28544401^[1]

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