title: DNA G-quadruplex binders: a patent review.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  DNA G-quadruplexes are four-stranded DNA structures and are widely distributed in functional regions of the human genome, such as telomeres and gene promoter regions. G-quadruplex structures can play important roles, including in immunoglobulin gene rearrangements, DNA replication, gene transcription, and are viewed as valid therapeutic targets in human cancer diseases. Design of G-quadruplex binders that target these structures and regulate related gene functions through stabilization of these structures are emerging as an exciting new class of potential anticancer agents. Besides as drug candidate, DNA G-quadruplex binders can also serve as excellent probes, helping the further exploration of biological functions of G-quadruplex and early diagnosis of G-quadruplex-related disease.
  
  
  METHODS
  This review provides an overview of current knowledge on patents of DNA G-quadruplex binders from 2008 to 2013. Information is collected from an extensive search, covering Derwent Innovations Index, Espacenet, SciFinder, and Google patent search.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  With the accumulating evidence of G-quadruplex as an effective drug target, an increasing number of DNA G-quadruplex binders with diverse structural features were developed. These binders are either used as drug candidates targeting G-quadruplex, or as probes for diagnostic purpose in genomic study. This review would mainly focus on the patents published after 2008 (including 2008). In order to cover all the diverse structural types of DNA G-quadruplex binders, some patents published before 2008 would be mentioned as well.
authors: Sun Yat-sen University, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences , Guangzhou 510006 , People's Republic of China cesglq@mail.sysu.edu.cn.
authors: Yiyong
authors: Y
authors: Yan
authors: Jiaheng
authors: J
authors: Tan
authors: Tianmiao
authors: T
authors: Ou
authors: Zhishu
authors: Z
authors: Huang
authors: Lianquan
authors: L
authors: Gu
mesh_terms: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000494:pharmacology; D015195:Drug Design; D054856:G-Quadruplexes / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D006841:Hydrocarbons, Aromatic / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000494:pharmacology; D007202:Indicators and Reagents; D047028:Macrocyclic Compounds / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000494:pharmacology; D010330:Patents as Topic
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D006841:Hydrocarbons, Aromatic; D007202:Indicators and Reagents; D047028:Macrocyclic Compounds