title: The evolving world of protein-G-quadruplex recognition: a medicinal chemist's perspective.
abstract: The physiological and pharmacological role of nucleic acids structures folded into the non canonical G-quadruplex conformation have recently emerged. Their activities are targeted at vital cellular processes including telomere maintenance, regulation of transcription and processing of the pre-messenger or telomeric RNA. In addition, severe conditions like cancer, fragile X syndrome, Bloom syndrome, Werner syndrome and Fanconi anemia J are related to genomic defects that involve G-quadruplex forming sequences. In this connection G-quadruplex recognition and processing by nucleic acid directed proteins and enzymes represents a key event to activate or deactivate physiological or pathological pathways. In this review we examine protein-G-quadruplex recognition in physiologically significant conditions and discuss how to possibly exploit the interactions' selectivity for targeted therapeutic intervention.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Padova, Via Marzolo 5, Padua, Italy.
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Sissi
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Gatto
authors.forename: Manlio
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Palumbo
mesh_terms: D000906:Antibodies / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D052157:Aptamers, Nucleotide; D001483:Base Sequence; D004265:DNA Helicases / Q000378:metabolism; D015195:Drug Design; D054856:G-Quadruplexes; D034441:Heterogeneous-Nuclear Ribonucleoproteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010455:Peptides / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D014176:Protein Biosynthesis; D011506:Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D020365:RNA Helicases / Q000378:metabolism; D022661:RNA, Untranslated; D000089804:Shelterin Complex; D016615:Telomere / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D034501:Telomere-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D014158:Transcription, Genetic
chemical_list: D000906:Antibodies; D052157:Aptamers, Nucleotide; D034441:Heterogeneous-Nuclear Ribonucleoproteins; D010455:Peptides; D011506:Proteins; D022661:RNA, Untranslated; D000089804:Shelterin Complex; D034501:Telomere-Binding Proteins; D004265:DNA Helicases; D020365:RNA Helicases