6533b7d6fe1ef96bd1267104

RESEARCH PRODUCT

Quadruplex detection in human cells

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description

Abstract The precise detection of both DNA and RNA quadruplexes in human cells remains challenging. Efforts are being invested to design, synthesize and operate molecular tools to track and detect quadruplexes in cells. Such probes now have sufficient molecular specificity and suitable spectroscopic properties to shed light on quadruplexes in their cellular context, thus providing reliable details about their existence in cells. Herein, the most important steps in this line of development are summarized, from the very first attempts with organometallic complexes to the development of immunodetection technologies; and from in vitro to live-cell investigations performed with cell-permeable quadruplex-specific small molecule dyes. The results obtained with the most recent molecular systems are also compared, highlighting how fine-tuned fluorescent probes (structure optimization, fluorescence responsiveness, etc.) provide unique insights into the prevalence and relevance of quadruplex landscapes in human cells.