Quadruplex formation by both G-rich and C-rich DNA strands of the C9orf72 (GGGGCC)8•(GGCCCC)8 repeat: effect of CpG methylation.

ABSTRACT: Unusual DNA/RNA structures of the C9orf72 repeat may participate in repeat expansions or pathogenesis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and frontotemporal dementia. Expanded repeats are CpG methylated with unknown consequences. Typically, quadruplex structures form by G-rich but not complementary C-rich strands. Using CD, UV and electrophoresis, we characterized the structures formed by (GGGGCC)8 and (GGCCCC)8 strands with and without 5-methylcytosine (5mCpG) or 5-hydroxymethylcytosine (5hmCpG) methylation. All strands formed heterogenous mixtures of structures, with features of quadruplexes (at pH 7.5, in K(+), Na(+) or Li(+)), but no feature typical of i-motifs. C-rich strands formed quadruplexes, likely stabilized by G•C•G•C-tetrads and C•C•C•C-tetrads. Unlike G•G•G•G-tetrads, some G•C•G

SUBMITTER: Zamiri B 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4787773 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature