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Updated: Dec 27, 2025

Single-Molecule Fluorescence Visualization of DNA Polymerase Dynamics at G-Quadruplexes
Published on: April 4, 2025
Elucidating Noncovalent Reaction Mechanisms: G-Quartet as an Intermediate in G-Quadruplex Assembly
Miguel Martín-Arroyo1, Anselmo Del Prado1, Raquel Chamorro1
1Nanostructured Molecular Systems and Materials (MSMn) Group, Departamento de Química Orgánica, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, 28049, Madrid, Spain.
Abstract:
In analogy to covalent reactions, the understanding of noncovalent association pathways is fundamental to influence and control any supramolecular process. Following an approach that is reminiscent of covalent methodologies, we study here, for the first time, the mechanism of G-quadruplex formation in organic solvents. Our results support a reaction pathway in which the cation shifts the equilibrium towards a G-quartet transient intermediate, which then acts as a template in the formation of the G-quadruplex product.
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