interests = Nucleic acids are prone to structural polymorphism: in addition to the well known DNA double-helix, a number of alternative structures may be formed. However, most non-canonical conformations are stable only under non-physiological conditions and have been considered simple curiosities. Among these oddities, a family of nucleic acid secondary structures known as G-quadruplex (G4) has emerged as more than a novelty. These structures can be formed by certain guanine-rich sequences and are stabilized by G-quartets.
These structures can be formed by certain guanine-rich sequences and are stabilized by G-quartets. The evidence for quadruplex formation in vivo is compelling. These structures were identified in telomeres, in oncogene promoters and also in transcribed regions or repeated patterns. More than 370,000 sequences present in the genome and transcriptome were identified.
Quadruplex ligands are small molecules able to recognize these structures. These molecules were originally developed as indirect inhibitors of telomerase. Since the first test many ligand with an antiproliferative effect have been described.
I study the biological effect of these molecules, and I try to elucidate the mechanism of action of these molecules.