Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 25, 2025

Single-Molecule Fluorescence Visualization of DNA Polymerase Dynamics at G-Quadruplexes
Published on: April 4, 2025
Transient Transcription Machineries Modulate Dynamic Functions of G-Quadruplexes: Temporal Regulation of Biocatalytic
Jiantong Dong1, Itamar Willner1
1The Institute of Chemistry, The Center for Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, 91904, Israel.
Abstract:
Native G-quadruplex-regulated temporal biocatalytic circuits, gene polymerization, and transcription processes are emulated by biomimetic, synthetically engineered transcription machineries coupled to reconfigurable G-quadruplex nanostructures. These are addressed by the following example: (i) A reaction module demonstrates the fuel-triggered transcription machinery-guided transient synthesis of G-quadruplex nanostructures. (ii) A dynamically triggered and modulated transcription machinery that guides the temporal separation and reassembly of the anti-thrombin G-quadruplex aptamer/thrombin complex is introduced, and the transient thrombin-catalyzed coagulation of fibrinogen is demonstrated. (iii) A dynamically fueled transient transcription machinery for the temporal activation of G-quadruplex-topologically blocked gene polymerization circuits is introduced. (iv) Transcription circuits revealing G-quadruplex-promoted or G-quadruplex-inhibited cascaded transcription machineries are presented. Beyond advancing the rapidly developing field of dynamically modulated G-quadruplex DNA nanostructures, the systems introduce potential therapeutic applications.
Related Concept Videos
Coordination of Gene Expression Processes in Bacteria
Bacterial Transcription
Transcription can be divided into three main stages, each involving distinct DNA sequences to guide the polymerase. These are:
Transcription Elongation Factors
The transcription elongation is regulated via pausing of RNA polymerase on several occasions during transcription. In bacteria, these halts are necessary because the transcription of DNA into mRNA is coupled to the translation of that mRNA...
Regulation of Expression at Multiple Steps
Transcriptional Regulation: Riboswitches
Translational Regulation

