Short LNA-modified oligonucleotide probes as efficient disruptors of DNA G-quadruplexes.

ABSTRACT: G-quadruplexes (G4s) are well known non-canonical DNA secondary structures that can form in human cells. Most of the tools available to investigate G4-biology rely on small molecule ligands that stabilise these structures. However, the development of probes that disrupt G4s is equally important to study their biology. In this study, we investigated the disruption of G4s using Locked Nucleic Acids (LNA) as invader probes. We demonstrated that strategic positioning of LNA-modifications within short oligonucleotides (10 nts.) can significantly accelerate the rate of G4-disruption. Single-molecule experiments revealed that short LNA-probes can promote disruption of G4s with mechanical stability sufficient to stall polymerases. We corroborated this using a single-step extension assay, revealing

SUBMITTER: Chowdhury S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9303293 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature