A single-molecule force-spectroscopic study on stabilization of G-quadruplex DNA by a telomerase inhibitor

Single-molecule force spectroscopy was carried out using AFM force measurements for the purpose of direct observation of the stabilization of G-quadruplex DNA by a telomerase inhibitor, which is 5,10,15,20-tetrakis(N-methylpyridinium-4-yl)porphyrin tetrakis(p-toluenesulfonate) (TMPyP). In AFM force measurements, we used an AFM tip and an Au substrate modified chemically with terminal-biotinylated telomere DNA and streptavidin, respectively. The telomere DNA was fully stretched by the AFM tip based on the bridge formation between the AFM tip and the Au substrate through the streptavidin-biotin interaction. The force-extension curves, which reflected the stretching of a single DNA molecule, were distinguished from all of the curves, judging from the rupture force and the contour length. The selected curves were analyzed using a worm-like chain model, and one of the fitting parameters, persistence length (lp), was used as an index for the stabilization of the G-quadruplex structure. Consequently, the lp value was significantly increased by the addition of TMPyP under the experimental conditions where the G-quadruplex structure could be formed. On the other hand, the value was hardly changed by the addition of TMPyP under the conditions except the above. Furthermore, the methodology developed and demonstrated in this work was applied to evaluate the stabilization of G-quadruplex DNA by other telomerase inhibitors such as ethidium bromide and p-xylene-bis(N-pyridinium bromide).