Interaction of G-quadruplex Forming DNA Aptamers with PAMAM Dendrimers Studied by Dynamic Light Scattering and UV-VIS Spectrophotometry**

The complexes of G-quadruplex forming DNA thrombin binding aptamers (TBA) and polyamidoamine dendrimers (PAMAM) were studied with the aim to form a model targeted drug delivery system. Hydrodynamic diameter, zeta potential and melting temperature (T_m) were investigated by dynamic light scattering and UV-VIS spectrophotometry. Non-covalent adsorption by means of electrostatic interaction between positively charged amino groups of dendrimers (+) and negatively charged phosphate groups of aptamers (−) has driven the formation of aggregates. The size of complexes was in the range of 0.2–2 μm and depended on the type of dispersant, charge ratio (+/−) and temperature. Raising the temperature increased the polydispersity, new smaller size distributions were observed indicating the G-quadruplex unfolding. The melting transition temperature of TBA aptamer was affected by the presence of amino-terminated PAMAM rather than carboxylated succinic acid PAMAM−SAH dendrimer, thus supporting the electrostatic nature of interaction that disturbed denaturation of target-specific quadruplex aptamer structure.     

电喷雾质谱法研究天然产物小分子识别人类端粒G-四链体及复合物的热稳定性

利用电喷雾质谱(ESI-MS)研究了12种天然产物小分子与人类端粒G-四链体结构的非共价相互作用和识别功能, 比较了不同小分子与人类端粒G-四链体的结合强弱, 发现了一种新的识别小分子——防己诺林碱对人类端粒G-四链体有很好的结合. 通过质谱升温实验比较了小分子结合对G-四链体热稳定性的影响, 防己诺林碱的结合使G-四链体的离子的解离温度(T1/2)上升到200 ℃. 利用分子模拟对G-四链体DNA与小分子结合的模式以及稳定性进行了探讨, 给出了防己诺林碱可能的结合位点和结合模式, Autodock计算出来的结合能约为-31.5 kJ·mol-1. 同原来的平面型分子不同, 防己诺林碱是一类新型结构的分子, 为设计合成新型G-四链体识别分子提供了新的结构模型.     

Single-molecule investigation of human telomeric G-quadruplex interactions with Thioflavin T

The interactions between human telomere sequence and a typical highly selective G-quadruplex ligand ThT were studied at the single-molecule level through α-hemolysin protein nanopore.     

Electrochemical Investigation of Heterogeneous Affinity Behaviour of Methylene Blue and G-quadruplex

The heterogeneous binding behaviour between methylene blue (MB) and G-quadruplex, one kind of single-stranded (ss) DNA with specific guanine tetrads, has been thoroughly studied via electrochemical techniques. Positively charged MB interacted electrostatically with both G-quadruplex and normal ssDNA but the binding and dissociation kinetics between them were significantly different. Compared with ssDNA, G-quadruplex had a slower binding rate constant and dissociation rate constant with MB since there existed other different binding mechanisms between G-quadruplex and MB besides electrostatic interaction. This work might provide valuable information in the design and development of DNA sensors.     

吲哚并喹啉衍生物与G-四链体相互作用的分子模拟研究

G-四链体是富含鸟嘌呤碱基的DNA序列通过氢键相互作用形成的四链螺旋结构. 通过小分子化合物诱导与稳定端粒G-四链体从而抑制端粒酶活性是一种新的抗癌策略. 为了研究一系列吲哚并喹啉衍生物与端粒G-四链体的相互作用, 探究其相互作用模式, 从而为实现基于G-四链体结构的药物合理设计提供依据, 使用分子对接的方法构建了吲哚并喹啉衍生物与G-四链体复合物结构, 在此基础上进行分子动力学模拟, 并使用线性相互作用能(LIE)方法计算了化合物与G-四链体的结合自由能. 结果表明: 化合物与G-四链体的主要相互作用方式由氢键、静电与π-π堆积作用构成, 侧链末端基团类型和侧链的长短是影响相互作用强弱的重要因素. 通过LIE方法计算的结合自由能与实验结果基本吻合, 相关度达到r²＝0.79. 并且, 基于预测的结合模式, 总结了拥有更高活性的新型吲哚并喹啉衍生物应具有的几个结构特征.     

Inducement and stabilization of G-quadruplex DNA by a thiophene-containing dinuclear ruthenium(II) complex

G-quadruplex structures are attractive targets for the development of anticancer drugs, as their formation in human telomere could impair telomerase activity, thus inducing apoptosis in cancer cells. In this work, a thiophene-containing dinuclear ruthenium(II) complex, [Ru₂(bpy)₄(H₂bipt)]⁴⁺ {bpy = 2,2′-bipyridine, H₂bipt = 2,5-bis[1,10]phenanthrolin[4,5-f]-(imidazol-2-yl)thiophene}, was prepared and the interaction between the complex and human telomeric DNA oligomers 5′-G₃(T₂AG₃)₃-3′ (HTG21) has been investigated by UV-Vis, fluorescence and circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy, fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) melting assay, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) stop assay, fluorescent intercalator displacement (FID) titrations, Job plot and color reaction studies. The results indicate that the complex can well induce and stabilize the formation of antiparallel G-quadruplex of telomeric DNA in the presence or absence of metal cations, and the ΔT_m value of the G-quadruplex DNA treated with the complex was obtained to be 12.8 °C even at levels of 50-fold molar of duplex DNA (calf-thymus DNA), suggesting that the complex exhibits higher G-quadruplex DNA selectivity over duplex DNA. The complex shows high interaction ability with G-quadruplex DNA at (1.17 ± 0.12) × 10⁷ M^?1 binding affinity using a 2:1 [complex]/[quadruplex] binding mode ratio. A novel visual method has been developed here for making a distinction between G-quadruplex DNA and duplex DNA by our ruthenium complex binding hemin to form the hemin-G-quadruplex DNAzyme.     

Disubstituted 2-phenyl-benzopyranopyrimidine derivatives as a new type of highly selective ligands for telomeric G-quadruplex DNA

A series of 2-phenyl-benzopyranopyrimidine (PBPP) derivatives with alkylamino side chains were synthesized and found to be a new type of highly selective ligand to bind with telomeric G-quadruplex DNA, and their biological properties were reported for the first time. Their interactions with telomeric G-quadruplex DNA were studied with FRET melting, surface plasmon resonance, CD spectroscopy, and molecular modeling. Our results showed that the disubstituted PBPP derivatives could strongly bind to and effectively stabilize the telomeric G-quadruplex structure, and had significant selectivity for G-quadruplex over duplex DNA. In comparison, the mono substituted derivatives had much less effect on the G-quadruplex, suggesting that the disubstitution of PBPP is essential for its interaction with the G-quadruplex. Furthermore, telomerase inhibition of the PBPP derivatives and their cellular effects were studied, and compound 11b was found to be the most promising compound as a telomerase inhibitor and telomeric G-quadruplex binding ligand for further development for cancer treatment.     

Specific recognition of human telomeric G-quadruplex DNA with small molecules and the conformational analysis by ESI mass spectrometry and circular dichroism spectropolarimetry

Electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) was utilized to investigate the binding affinity and stoichiometry of small molecules with human telomeric G-quadruplex DNA. The binding-affinity order obtained for the (AGGGTT)(4) quadruplex was: Tel01>ImImImbetaDp>PyPyPygammaImImImbetaDp. The specific binding of Tel01 and PyPyPygammaImImImbetaDp in one system consisting of human telomeric G-quadruplex and duplex DNA was observed directly for the first time. This revealed that PyPyPygammaImImImbetaDp has a binding specificity for the duplex DNA, whereas Tel01 selectively recognizes the G-quadruplex DNA. Moreover, both ESI-MS and circular dichroism (CD) spectra indicated that Tel01 favored the formation and stabilization of the antiparallel G-quadruplex, and a structural transition of the (AGGGTT)(4) sequence from a coexistence of parallel and antiparallel G-quadruplexes to a parallel G-quadruplex induced by annealing.     

Synthesis,characterization, DNA binding,topoisomerase I inhibition,and antiproliferation activities of (di-<Emphasis Type="Italic">tert</Emphasis>-butylbipyridine) platinum(II) complexes

Two mononuclear Pt(II) complexes, Pt(dbbpy)Cl₂ (1) and [Pt(dbbpy)₂](PF₆)₂ (2) (dbbpy?=?4,4′-ditertbutyl-2,2′-biyridine) were synthesized and characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis, elemental analysis, ¹H NMR, and ESI–MS. Their binding affinities for both double-stranded (DS) calf thymus DNA (ct-DNA) and G-quadruplex DNA (HT21 and BCL-2) were investigated. In addition to structural differences, complex 1 displayed higher binding affinity for DS ct-DNA, whereas positively charged complex 2 was selective for binding to G-quadruplex DNA over DS DNA. The time-dependent cleavage of supercoiled circular plasmid pBR322 DNA by 1 was observed using agarose gel electrophoresis, whereas complex 2 hardly cleaved DS DNA. Stabilization of G-quadruplex HT21 DNA by both complexes was assessed by PCR stop assays. Both complexes exhibited moderate activities for inhibition of topoisomerase I as well as modest antiproliferation activities toward cancer cells in CKK-8 assays.     

Quantitative Detection of G-Quadruplex DNA in Live Cells Based on Photon Counts and Complex Structure Discrimination

G-quadruplex DNA show structural polymorphism, leading to challenges in the use of selective recognition probes for the accurate detection of G-quadruplexes in vivo. Herein, we present a tripodal cationic fluorescent probe, NBTE , which showed distinguishable fluorescence lifetime responses between G-quadruplexes and other DNA topologies, and fluorescence quantum yield (Φ_f) enhancement upon G-quadruplex binding. We determined two NBTE -G-quadruplex complex structures with high Φ_f values by NMR spectroscopy. The structures indicated NBTE interacted with G-quadruplexes using three arms through π–π stacking, differing from that with duplex DNA using two arms, which rationalized the higher Φ_f values and lifetime response of NBTE upon G-quadruplex binding. Based on photon counts of FLIM, we detected the percentage of G-quadruplex DNA in live cells with NBTE and found G-quadruplex DNA content in cancer cells is 4-fold that in normal cells, suggesting the potential applications of this probe in cancer cell detection.     

咪唑修饰萘酰亚胺与DNA的作用及其细胞毒性

设计合成了咪唑及其烷基化咪唑阳离子基团修饰的萘酰亚胺衍生物。利用紫外-可见吸收光谱、荧光光谱、圆二色谱和荧光共振能量转移等方法研究了它们与小牛胸腺DNA(CT DNA)和G-四链体DNA的相互作用。这些化合物对端粒DNA序列的G-四链体有很高的结合能力(K_α4×10~6 L·mol~(-1)),并能够稳定G-四链体。DNA粘度实验结果表明萘酰亚胺衍生物与CT DNA通过插入作用结合。Autodock分子对接模拟结果表明这些化合物通过疏水作用、静电作用或氢键等方式与人体端粒G-四链体的loop和沟槽部分结合。咪唑阳离子基团修饰的萘酰亚胺衍生物4a–c能够定位于细胞核,对肺癌细胞的细胞毒性要高于咪唑基团修饰的萘酰亚胺衍生物3。化合物4a和4b对肺癌细胞A549的细胞毒性明显高于正常人胚肺成纤维细胞MRC-5,表现出良好的抗癌活性。     

Structural basis for telomeric G-quadruplex targeting by naphthalene diimide ligands

The folding of the single-stranded 3' end of the human telomere into G-quadruplex arrangements inhibits the overhang from hybridizing with the RNA template of telomerase and halts telomere maintenance in cancer cells. The ability to thermally stabilize human telomeric DNA as a four-stranded G-quadruplex structure by developing selective small molecule compounds is a therapeutic path to regulating telomerase activity and thereby selectively inhibit cancer cell growth. The development of compounds with the necessary selectivity and affinity to target parallel-stranded G-quadruplex structures has proved particularly challenging to date, relying heavily upon limited structural data. We report here on a structure-based approach to the design of quadruplex-binding ligands to enhance affinity and selectivity for human telomeric DNA. Crystal structures have been determined of complexes between a 22-mer intramolecular human telomeric quadruplex and two potent tetra-substituted naphthalene diimide compounds, functionalized with positively charged N-methyl-piperazine side-chains. These compounds promote parallel-stranded quadruplex topology, binding exclusively to the 3' surface of each quadruplex. There are significant differences between the complexes in terms of ligand mobility and in the interactions with quadruplex grooves. One of the two ligands is markedly less mobile in the crystal complex and is more quadruplex-stabilizing, forming multiple electrostatic/hydrogen bond contacts with quadruplex phosphate groups. The data presented here provides a structural rationale for the biophysical (effects on quadruplex thermal stabilization) and biological data (inhibition of proliferation in cancer cell lines and evidence of in vivo antitumor activity) on compounds in this series and, thus, for the concept of telomere targeting with DNA quadruplex-binding small molecules.     

Selective recognition of G-qQuadruplex telomeric DNA by a bis(quinacridine) macrocycle

The interaction of G-quadruplex DNA with the macrocyclic compound BOQ1, which possesses two dibenzophenanthroline (quinacridine) subunits, has been investigated by a variety of methods. The oligonucleotide 5'-A(GGGT(2)A)(3)G(3), which mimics the human telomeric repeat sequence and forms an intramolecular quadruplex, was used as one model system. Equilibrium binding constants measured by biosensor surface plasmon resonance (SPR) methods indicate a high affinity of the macrocycle for the quadruplex conformation (K > 1 x 10(7) M(-)(1)) with two equivalent binding sites. The affinity of BOQ1 for DNA duplexes is at least 1 order of magnitude lower. In addition, the macrocycle is more selective than the monomeric control compound (MOQ2), which is not able to discriminate between the two DNA structures (K(duplex) approximately K(quadruplex) approximately 10(6) M(-)(1)). Strong binding of BOQ1 to G4 DNA sequences was confirmed by fluorometric titrations with a tetraplex-forming oligonucleotide. Competition dialysis experiments with a panel of different DNA structures, from single strands to quadruplexes, clearly established the quadruplex binding specificity of BOQ1. Fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) T(m) experiments with a doubly labeled oligonucleotide also revealed a strong stabilization of the G4 conformation in the presence of BOQ1 (DeltaT(m) = +28 degrees C). This DeltaT(m) value is one of the highest values measured for a G-quadruplex ligand and is significantly higher than observed for the monomer control compounds (DeltaT(m) = +10-12 degrees C). Gel mobility shift assays indicated that the macrocycle efficiently induces the formation of G-tetraplexes. Strong inhibition of telomerase was observed in the submicromolar range (IC(50) = 0.13 microM). These results indicate that macrocycles represent an exciting new development opportunity for targeting DNA quadruplexes.     

Sequence-specific detection of nucleic acids utilizing isothermal enrichment of G-quadruplex DNAzymes

G-quadruplex DNAzymes are peroxidase-like complexes formed by nucleic acid G-quadruplexes and hemin. Various chemical sensors and biosensors have been developed, based on such DNAzymes. Here we report a novel, specific nucleic acid detection method utilizing the isothermal amplification strategy of G-quadruplex DNAzymes. In this method, an unlabeled oligonucleotide probe was used. The probing sequence of the oligonucleotide was in the form of a stem-loop structure. A G-rich sequence, containing three GGG repeats, was linked to the 5′-end of the stem-loop structure. In the presence of target, the probing sequence hybridized to the target, and a G_n (n ≥ 2) repeat was extended from its 3′-end. This G_n repeat, together with the three GGG repeats at the 5′-end, folded into a G-quadruplex, and displayed enhanced peroxidase acitivity upon hemin binding. Utilizing the dynamic binding interaction between the probe and its target, the enrichment of G-quadruplex DNAzymes was achieved. Using this method, simple, rapid and cost-effective nucleic acid detection could be achieved. This method displayed high target-length tolerance and good detection specificity; one-base mismatch could be judged easily, even by visual inspection. This method may be used as an auxiliary tool for amplified detection of specific DNA targets in some situations, in which isothermal detection is desirable.     

Intercalation of a Heterocyclic Ligand between Quartets in a G-Rich Tetrahelical Structure

YES G-rich oligonucleotide VK2 folds into an AGCGA-quadruplex tetrahelical structure distinct and significantly different from G-quadruplexes, even though it contains four G₃ tracts. Herein, a bis-quinolinium ligand 360A with high affinity for G-quadruplex structures and selective telomerase inhibition is shown to strongly bind to VK2. Upon binding, 360A does not induce a conformational switch from VK2 to an expected G-quadruplex. In contrast, NMR structural study revealed formation of a well-defined VK2–360A complex with a 1:1 binding stoichiometry, in which 360A intercalates between GAGA- and GCGC-quartets in the central cavity of VK2. This is the first high-resolution structure of a G-quadruplex ligand intercalating into a G-rich tetrahelical fold. This unique mode of ligand binding into tetrahelical DNA architecture offers insights into the stabilization of an AGCGA-quadruplex by a heterocyclic ligand and provides guidelines for rational design of novel VK2 binding molecules with selectivity for different DNA secondary structures.     

Direct screening of G-quadruplex ligands from Kalopanax septemlobus (Thunb.) Koidz extract by high performance liquid chromatography

G-quadruplex DNA structure is considered to be a very attractive target for antitumor drug design due to its unique role in maintaining telomerase activities. Therefore, discovering ligands with high stability of G-quadruplex structure is of great interest. In this paper, high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) was used for fast screening of G-quadruplex ligands from the crude extract of Kalopanax septemlobus (Thunb.) Koidz, a traditional Chinese medicine. Four potent G-quadruplex ligands were firstly selected through HPLC by comparing the peak profiles and absorption intensity of the crude sample before and after interaction with G-quadruplex DNA. Then the target compounds were isolated and purified by high-speed countercurrent chromatography (HSCCC) for further confirmation of their stabilities of G-quadruplex by temperature-dependent circular dichroism (CD). Four compounds were isolated and identified as 2,4-dihydroxybenzoic acid (I), chlorogenic acid (II), caffeic acid (III) and 5-feruloylquinic acid (IV) each by MS and NMR. Finally, compound I, II, III were each proved to be potent G-quadruplex ligands by decreasing the peak intensity in HPLC chromatogram after complexation with G-quadruplex, which stabilize G-quadruplex by 7±2 °C, 10±2 °C, and 3±2 °C respectively, based on CD analyses. However, compound IV showed no G-quadruplex stability. The decrease of peak absorption intensity in HPLC chromatogram is the most important signal to find G-quadruplex ligands. This provides a very promising strategy for fast screening G-quadruplex ligands from natural plant extracts.     

Mass spectrometric studies on effects of counter ions of TMPyP4 on binding to human telomeric DNA and RNA G-quadruplexes

A comparative study on human telomeric DNA G-quadruplex binding of meso-5,10,15,20-tetrakis(N-methyl-4-pyridyl)porphyrin (TMPyP4) between its two salt forms, i.e., tetratosylate and tetrachloride, was conducted by using ESI-TOF-MS, UV-melting measurement, and molecular modeling methods. Besides cation TMPyP4, the tosyl anion was found to bind to human telomeric DNA G-quadruplex with multiple binding stoichiometries from 1:1 to 3:1 observed in ESI-TOF-MS spectra, indicating that the stabilization activity of TMPyP4 tetratosylate on G-quadruplex is derived from a synergetic effect of both TMPyP4 cation and tosyl anion. A molecular modeling study suggests that a tosyl anion fills up the vacant space between TMPyP4 cation and DNA G-quadruplex and thus stabilizes the complex by 3.8 kcal/mol. Therefore, it is estimated that TMPyP4 tetratosylate’s activity might not reflect the real effect of TMPyP4 cation in some bioassays related to G-quadruplex stabilization. This was verified by the results of less binding affinity of TMPyP4 tetrachloride with DNA G-quadruplex obtained from ESI-TOF-MS measurement, and of 2.27 °C less thermal stabilization of TMPyP4 tetrachloride for DNA G-quadruplex, compared to its tetratosylate under the same conditions. Our study demonstrated the influence of counter ions of TMPyP4 on G-quadruplex binding, which sheds light on the proper usage of TMPyP4 salt in the chemical and biological research associated with G-quadruplex binding. Subsequently, the binding of TMPyP4 tetrachloride to human telomeric RNA G-quadruplexes was studied with ESI-TOF-MS technique. The binding constants of TMPyP4 with human telomeric G-quadruplexes indicated that TMPyP4 binds to human telomeric RNA G-quadruplex one order of magnitude stronger than DNA counterpart. This is a comprehensive mass spectrometric report on binding study of TMPyP4 with human telomeric DNA/RNA G-quadruplexes.

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Binding of malachite green promotes stability and shows preference for a human telomere DNA G-quadruplex

A single-stranded human telomere DNA sequence can fold into an intramolecular G-quadruplex structure, which has been shown to inhibit telomerase activity. Small molecules that selectively target and stabilise the G-quadruplex structure have been proposed as potential anticancer drugs. In this study, we analysed the properties of binding of malachite green, a cationic triphenylmethane dye, to the G-quadruplex of d[(T₂AG₃)₄] by UV spectroscopy of thermal melting analysis, a competitive equilibrium dialysis assay, and absorption and circular dichroism spectroscopies. When binding to malachite green, the quadruplex structure that formed in the presence of K⁺ ions was stabilised with an increase in melting temperatures by 6 °C. Malachite green showed selective binding to the G-quadruplex in the presence of duplex and single-stranded DNAs, owing to which it presents higher potential for anticancer therapy, compared to other triphenylmethane dyes. The induced signals of circular dichroism indicate that the binding mode of malachite green involves intercalation between adjacent guanine tetrads of the G-quadruplex.     

Unprecedented hour-long residence time of a cation in a left-handed G-quadruplex

Cations are critical for the folding and assembly of nucleic acids. In G-quadruplex structures, cations can bind between stacked G-tetrads and coordinate with negatively charged guanine carbonyl oxygens. They usually exchange between binding sites and with the bulk in solution with time constants ranging from sub-millisecond to seconds. Here we report the first observation of extremely long-lived K⁺ and NH₄⁺ ions, with an exchange time constant on the order of an hour, when coordinated at the center of a left-handed G-quadruplex DNA. A single-base mutation, that switched one half of the structure from left- to right-handed conformation resulting in a right–left hybrid G-quadruplex, was shown to remove this long-lived behaviour of the central cation.

An extremely long-lived cation has been detected in left-handed G-quadruplexes.     

Synthesis and G-quadruplex binding studies of new 4-N-methylpyridinium porphyrins

A series of cationic porphyrins carrying 1-3 meso-N-pyridinium groups has been synthesised, and their binding to G-quadruplex DNA has been explored by surface plasmon resonance (SPR) and circular dichroism spectroscopy. Two trans substituents appear to be sufficient for tight binding; preferential binding to the anti-parallel intramolecular human telomeric DNA was observed for the A2trans and A3 porphyrins. The A2trans is able to induce the formation of an anti-parallel G-quadruplex in a K+ free solution, mimicking the effect of a molecular chaperone.