title: Recognition of nucleic acid junctions using triptycene-based molecules.
abstract: The modulation of nucleic acids by small molecules is an essential process across the kingdoms of life. Targeting nucleic acids with small molecules represents a significant challenge at the forefront of chemical biology. Nucleic acid junctions are ubiquitous structural motifs in nature and in designed materials. Herein, we describe a new class of structure-specific nucleic acid junction stabilizers based on a triptycene scaffold. Triptycenes provide significant stabilization of DNA and RNA three-way junctions, providing a new scaffold for the development of nucleic acid junction binders with enhanced recognition properties. Additionally, we report cytotoxicity and cell uptake data in two human ovarian carcinoma cell lines.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, University of Pennsylvania, 231 South 34th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104 (USA).
authors.forename: Stephanie A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Barros
authors.forename: David M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Chenoweth
mesh_terms: D000873:Anthracenes / Q000737:chemistry*; D001665:Binding Sites; D009696:Nucleic Acids / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D000873:Anthracenes; D009696:Nucleic Acids; C520712:triptycene
keywords: DNA recognition; RNA recognition; nucleic acid recognition; triptycenes