title: Engineering of interlocked DNA G-quadruplexes as a robust scaffold.
abstract: Interlock is a structural element in DNA G-quadruplexes that can be compared with the commonly used complementary binding of 'sticky ends' in DNA duplexes. G-quadruplex interlocking can be a basis for the assembly of higher-order structures. In this study, we formulated a rule to engineer (3 + 1) interlocked dimeric G-quadruplexes and established the folding topology of the designed DNA sequences by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. These interlocked G-quadruplexes are very stable and can serve as compact robust scaffolds for various applications. Different structural elements can be engineered in these robust scaffolds. We demonstrated the anti-HIV inhibition activity of the newly designed DNA sequences.
authors.affiliation: School of Physical and Mathematical Sciences and School of Biological Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore. phantuan@ntu.edu.sg
authors.forename: Anh Tuân
authors.initials: AT
authors.lastname: Phan
authors.forename: Ngoc Quang
authors.initials: NQ
authors.lastname: Do
mesh_terms: D004247:DNA / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology; D054856:G-Quadruplexes; D019427:HIV Integrase / Q000378:metabolism; D019428:HIV Integrase Inhibitors / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D008958:Models, Molecular; D019906:Nuclear Magnetic Resonance, Biomolecular
chemical_list: D019428:HIV Integrase Inhibitors; D004247:DNA; D019427:HIV Integrase; C514801:p31 integrase protein, Human immunodeficiency virus 1