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Review
. 2019 Aug;593(16):2083-2102.
doi: 10.1002/1873-3468.13547. Epub 2019 Jul 30.

The diverse structural landscape of quadruplexes

Helen L Lightfoot  1 , Timo Hagen  1 , Natalie J Tatum  2 , Jonathan Hall  1
Affiliations
Free article
Review

The diverse structural landscape of quadruplexes

Helen L Lightfoot et al. FEBS Lett. 2019 Aug.
Free article

Abstract

G-quadruplexes are secondary structures formed in G-rich sequences in DNA and RNA. Considerable research over the past three decades has led to in-depth insight into these unusual structures in DNA. Since the more recent exploration into RNA G-quadruplexes, such structures have demonstrated their in cellulo existence, function and roles in pathology. In comparison to Watson-Crick-based secondary structures, most G-quadruplexes display highly redundant structural characteristics. However, numerous reports of G-quadruplex motifs/structures with unique features (e.g. bulges, long loops, vacancy) have recently surfaced, expanding the repertoire of G-quadruplex scaffolds. This review addresses G-quadruplex formation and structure, including recent reports of non-canonical G-quadruplex structures. Improved methods of detection will likely further expand this collection of novel structures and ultimately change the face of quadruplex-RNA targeting as a therapeutic strategy.

Keywords: canonical; non-canonical; nucleic acids; quadruplex; structure.

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References

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