Targeting nucleic acids with a G-triplex-to-G-quadruplex transformation and stabilization using a peptide-PNA G-tract conjugate

Chem Commun (Camb). 2020 Jun 18;56(48):6567-6570. doi: 10.1039/d0cc02102d. Epub 2020 May 12.

Abstract

A dual-functional peptide-PNA (peptide nucleic acid) conjugate consisting of a PNA G3-tract and an RHAU23 peptide is devised to target nucleic acids bearing three tandem guanine tracts (G-tracts). The PNA G3-tract joins the three G-tracts to form a stable bimolecular G-quadruplex (G4) and the resulting G4 is then bound by the RHAU23 moiety to form an extra stable G4-peptide complex. Owing to this synergistic dual structural enforcement, the conjugate accomplished extremely high selectivity and nM to sub-nM affinities towards its targets that are up to 1000 times greater than the small molecule G4 ligands. As a result, the conjugate impacts the tracking activity of motor proteins on DNA with superior selectivity and potency that are rarely seen in other G4-targeting approaches.

MeSH terms

  • DEAD-box RNA Helicases / chemistry
  • DNA / chemistry*
  • DNA / metabolism
  • Electrophoretic Mobility Shift Assay
  • G-Quadruplexes*
  • Guanine / chemistry
  • Humans
  • Nucleic Acid Conformation
  • Peptide Nucleic Acids / chemistry*
  • Peptide Nucleic Acids / metabolism
  • Peptides / chemistry
  • Peptides / metabolism
  • Telomerase / genetics

Substances

  • Peptide Nucleic Acids
  • Peptides
  • Guanine
  • DNA
  • TERT protein, human
  • Telomerase
  • DEAD-box RNA Helicases