Twisting tetraplex DNA: A strand dynamics regulating i-motif function in diverse molecular crowding environments.

ABSTRACT: Intercalated motif (i-motif) tetraplex DNA plays a crucial role in gene expression and diseases. However, due to the limited number of i-motif binding proteins in human cells, the chemical mechanisms regulating i-motifs within cell remain currently unknown. Thus, molecular environment should have a main factor to control i-motif formation and functions in cells. Here, we systematically investigated the stability and functions of i-motif DNAs by using various polyethylene glycols (PEGs) and oligoethylene glycols (OEGs) that mimicked diverse cellular crowding environments. We found that the human telomere i-motif was significantly stabilized by PEGs and OEGs having six or more ethylene glycol units, whereas it was destabilized by those having less than six units. As these stabilization effec

SUBMITTER: Takahashi S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12207411 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature