Trans-cis isomerization kinetics of cyanine dyes reports on the folding states of exogeneous RNA G-quadruplexes in live cells.

ABSTRACT: Guanine (G)-rich nucleic acids are prone to assemble into four-stranded structures, so-called G-quadruplexes. Abnormal GGGGCC repeat elongations, and in particular their folding states, are associated with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and frontotemporal dementia. Due to methodological constraints however, most studies of G quadruplex structures are restricted to in vitro conditions. Evidence of how GGGGCC repeats form into G-quadruplexes in vivo is sparse. We devised a readout strategy, exploiting the sensitivity of trans-cis isomerization of cyanine dyes to local viscosity and sterical constraints. Thereby, folding states of cyanine-labeled RNA, and in particular G-quadruplexes, can be identified in a sensitive manner. The isomerization kinetics, monitored via fluorescence blinking gener

SUBMITTER: Kitamura A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10018373 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature