Functional and Structural Analyses of Diverse G-Quadruplex and Non-G-Quadruplex Structures Formed by Guanine-Rich Nucleic Acids: A Study on the Insulin Aptamer.

ABSTRACT: Guanine-rich sequences in nucleic acids play a critical role in various biological processes owing to their ability to form G-quadruplexes. In addition, biotechnology tools exploiting the unique functionalities of G-quadruplex structures have garnered considerable attention. However, the potential roles of non-G-quadruplex structures have not been explored. Herein, a guanine-rich oligonucleotide, which forms non-G-quadruplexes, is found to still demonstrate an affinity for proteins, specifically in the case of an aptamer. The insulin-binding aptamer IGA3, known for its guanine-rich sequence, forms various structures depending on the environmental conditions. At low cation concentrations, IGA3 adopts a distinct monomeric structure that is not G-quadruplex but retains its insulin-binding cap

SUBMITTER: Iwano N 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12571214 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature