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Updated: Jun 27, 2026
08:28
Single-molecule Manipulation of G-quadruplexes by Magnetic Tweezers
Published on: September 19, 2017
Noble Metal Complexes and Non-Canonical Nucleic Acids: From G-Quadruplex Recognition to Emerging Functional
Damiano Cirri1, Alessandro Pratesi1
1Department of Chemistry and Industrial Chemistry, University of Pisa, Via Giuseppe Moruzzi 13, 56124 Pisa, Italy.
Biomolecules
|June 26, 2026
Summary
Noble metal complexes recognize non-canonical DNA structures like G-quadruplexes (G4s) and i-motifs. This review focuses on G4s, exploring their coordination chemistry and biological roles for next-generation metallodrug design.
Area of Science:
- Medicinal Chemistry
- Structural Biology
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Non-canonical nucleic acids (G-quadruplexes, i-motifs, etc.) present unique coordination sites distinct from duplex DNA.
- Noble metal complexes offer diverse recognition mechanisms for these structures.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review noble metal complex recognition of non-canonical nucleic acid structures, with a focus on G-quadruplexes.
- To discuss the mechanistic and biological evidence for metallodrug interactions with these architectures.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of studies on platinum, gold, palladium, and silver complexes interacting with G-quadruplexes, i-motifs, and other non-canonical structures.
- Analysis of coordination chemistry, pi-stacking, electrostatics, and shape complementarity in recognition.
Main Results:
- DNA G-quadruplexes (G4s) show the most mature evidence for noble metal recognition.
- Mechanisms include coordination chemistry, pi-stacking, electrostatics, and shape complementarity.
- Distinction made between structural recognition, cellular engagement, and phenotypic response.
Conclusions:
- G-quadruplexes in telomeric, promoter, and mitochondrial DNA are key targets.
- Emerging targets include i-motifs, junctional DNA, and structured RNA.
- Addressing selectivity, resistance, and delivery is crucial for next-generation metallodrugs.
Keywords:
G-quadruplexR-loopsRNA structuresZ-DNAZ-RNAgoldi-motifjunctional DNAmetabolomicsmetallodrugsmetallomicspalladiumplatinumproteomicssilverMore Related Videos
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