0000000000937437
AUTHOR
Jeremie Mitteaux
Disclosing the actual efficiency of G-quadruplex-DNA–disrupting small molecules
AbstractThe quest for small molecules that avidly bind to G-quadruplex-DNA (G4-DNA, or G4), so called G4-ligands, has invigorated the G4 research field from its very inception. Massive efforts have been invested to i- screen or design G4-ligands, ii- evaluate their G4-interacting properties in vitro through a series of now widely accepted and routinely implemented assays, and iii- use them as unique chemical biology tools to interrogate cellular networks that might involve G4s. In sharp contrast, only uncoordinated efforts at developing small molecules aimed at destabilizing G4s have been invested to date, even though it is now recognized that such molecular tools would have tremendous appl…
How to untie G-quadruplex knots and why?
International audience; For over two decades, the prime objective of the chemical biology community studying G-quadruplexes (G4s) has been to use chemicals to interact with and stabilize G4s in cells to obtain mechanistic interpretations. This strategy has been undoubtedly successful, as demonstrated by recent advances. However, these insights have also led to a fundamental rethinking of G4-targeting strategies: due to the prevalence of G4s in the human genome, transcriptome, and ncRNAome (collectively referred to as the G4ome), and their involvement in human diseases, should we continue developing G4-stabilizing ligands or should we invest in designing molecular tools to unfold G4s? Here, …