G-quadruplexes are a unique class of DNA and RNA structures formed by guanosine rich sequences. The main elements of G-quadruplexes are Hoogsteen hydrogen-bonded guanines forming a core of stacking G-tetrads, and loops of various length and type. The four-stranded structures are helical and stabilized by monovalent cations such like K+ or Na+ which interact with G-quartets. G-quadruplexes are highly polymorphic and their topology can be influenced by many factors i.e. chemical nature of the structures, type and length of the loops or strand stoichiometry and orientation. Interestingly, the folding topology of RNA G-quadruplexes is mostly parallel, whereas DNA G-quadruplexes show broad topological diversity. G-quadruplexes are localized mainly in pivotal genomic regions where they most probably regulate various biological pathways. Importantly, this unique class of four-stranded structures, when synthesized chemically, can also act as promising molecular tools.
Nucleic-acid-based therapeutic and diagnostic approaches gain increasing recognition each year. Among those, G-quadruplexes have recently become one of the most outstanding classes of nucleic acid structures which can serve as prospective targets naturally occurring in cells and acting like triggers in such pivotal cellular processes like replication, transcription or translation. On the other hand, G-quadruplexes have been already proven to be potent molecular tools in various diseases treatments as well as in diagnostic approaches. Noteworthy, their outstanding properties e.g. ease of storage and balanced costs of synthesis, high enzymatic resistance, increased cellular uptake, and broad range of chemical modifications made G-quadruplexes interesting rival to antibodies. The main aim of this Research Topic is to gather up to date findings in the research area of therapeutic and diagnostic approaches targeted towards G-quadruplex structures in vivo or artificial G-quadruplexes.
We welcome Original Research, Review, Mini Review and Perspective articles on themes including, but not limited to:
• Synthetic G-quadruplexes with therapeutic or diagnostic potential
• G-quadruplex based aptamers
• Strategies of cellular processes regulation based on G-quadruplex targeting
G-quadruplexes are a unique class of DNA and RNA structures formed by guanosine rich sequences. The main elements of G-quadruplexes are Hoogsteen hydrogen-bonded guanines forming a core of stacking G-tetrads, and loops of various length and type. The four-stranded structures are helical and stabilized by monovalent cations such like K+ or Na+ which interact with G-quartets. G-quadruplexes are highly polymorphic and their topology can be influenced by many factors i.e. chemical nature of the structures, type and length of the loops or strand stoichiometry and orientation. Interestingly, the folding topology of RNA G-quadruplexes is mostly parallel, whereas DNA G-quadruplexes show broad topological diversity. G-quadruplexes are localized mainly in pivotal genomic regions where they most probably regulate various biological pathways. Importantly, this unique class of four-stranded structures, when synthesized chemically, can also act as promising molecular tools.
Nucleic-acid-based therapeutic and diagnostic approaches gain increasing recognition each year. Among those, G-quadruplexes have recently become one of the most outstanding classes of nucleic acid structures which can serve as prospective targets naturally occurring in cells and acting like triggers in such pivotal cellular processes like replication, transcription or translation. On the other hand, G-quadruplexes have been already proven to be potent molecular tools in various diseases treatments as well as in diagnostic approaches. Noteworthy, their outstanding properties e.g. ease of storage and balanced costs of synthesis, high enzymatic resistance, increased cellular uptake, and broad range of chemical modifications made G-quadruplexes interesting rival to antibodies. The main aim of this Research Topic is to gather up to date findings in the research area of therapeutic and diagnostic approaches targeted towards G-quadruplex structures in vivo or artificial G-quadruplexes.
We welcome Original Research, Review, Mini Review and Perspective articles on themes including, but not limited to:
• Synthetic G-quadruplexes with therapeutic or diagnostic potential
• G-quadruplex based aptamers
• Strategies of cellular processes regulation based on G-quadruplex targeting