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Updated: Oct 4, 2025

Single-Molecule Fluorescence Visualization of DNA Polymerase Dynamics at G-Quadruplexes
Published on: April 4, 2025
Destabilization of DNA and RNA G-quadruplex structures formed by GGA repeat due to N6-methyladenine modification
Yuka Iwasaki1, Yurino Ookuro2, Keisuke Iida3
1Graduate School of Bionics, Tokyo University of Technology, 1404-1 Katakura, Hachioji, Tokyo, 192-0982, Japan.
Abstract:
N6-methyladenine (m6A) is the most abundant RNA modification in eukaryotic RNA. Further, m6A has been identified in the genomic DNA of both eukaryotes and prokaryotes. The G-quadruplex (G4) structure is a non-canonical nucleic acid structure formed by the stacking of G:G:G:G tetrads. In this study, we evaluated the effect of m6A modifications on G4 structures formed by GGA repeat oligonucleotides, d(GGA)8, d(GGA)4, and r(GGA)4. The d(GGA)8 forms an intramolecular tetrad:heptad:heptad:tetrad G4 structure, while d(GGA)4 forms a dimerized intermolecular tetrad:heptad:heptad:tetrad G4 structure. r(GGA)4 forms a dimerized intermolecular tetrad:hexad:hexad:tetrad G4 structure. Circular dichroism melting analysis demonstrated that (1) m6A modifications destabilized the G4 structure formed by d(GGA)8, (2) m6A modification at A3 disrupted the G4 structure formed by d(GGA)4, and (3) m6A modification at A3 destabilized the G4 structure formed by r(GGA)4. m6A modifications may be involved in controlling G4 structure formation to regulate biological functions.
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