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Published on: September 19, 2017
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Stimuli-Responsive and Reversible Nanoassemblies of G-Triplexes
Heng Gao1, Shuzhen Peng1, Chenxiao Yan1
1Key Laboratory of the Ministry of Education for Advanced Catalysis Materials, Institute of Physical Chemistry, College of Chemistry and Life Sciences, Zhejiang Normal University, Zhejiang, Jinhua, 321004, P. R. China.
Chembiochem : a European Journal of Chemical Biology
|November 19, 2021
Summary
Researchers developed a reversible method to control guanine-rich DNA nanoassemblies using a natural alkaloid. This discovery opens new possibilities for understanding guanine-triplex (G3) structures and their potential biological functions.
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Molecular Biology
- Nanotechnology
Background:
- Guanine-rich DNA can form complex structures like G-quadruplexes (G4).
- G-triplex (G3) structures are an emerging class of DNA folds with potential biological roles.
- G3 nanoassemblies remain underexplored compared to G4 nanoassemblies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore the formation and control of G3 nanoassemblies.
- To investigate the use of a natural alkaloid as a ligand for G3 nanoassembly manipulation.
- To understand the role of external stimuli in regulating G3 nanoassembly dynamics.
Main Methods:
- Utilized sanguinarine as a ligand to induce reversible switching of thrombin binding aptamer G3 (TBA-G3) dimeric nanoassemblies.
- Investigated the influence of ligand planarity on nanoassembly switching.
- Employed external stimuli (pH, sulfite, O2, H2O2) to modulate ligand adhesivity and control G3 nanoassembly formation and destruction.
Main Results:
- Sanguinarine acts as a dynamic ligand glue, enabling reversible switching of TBA-G3 nanoassemblies.
- Ligand planarity is critical for achieving this switching behavior.
- External stimuli effectively modulate the ligand's adhesivity, allowing for controlled assembly and disassembly.
- The observed assembly behavior is specific to G3 structures and not seen with the corresponding G4 structures.
Conclusions:
- Higher-order G3 nanoassemblies can be reversibly controlled by manipulating ligand adhesivity.
- This work provides a novel understanding of guanine-rich sequence behavior and G3 folds.
- The findings suggest potential in-cell applications for G3 nanoassembly manipulation.
