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G-quadruplex DNA: A target for drug design

Abstract

Compounds that stabilize G-quadruplex structures in telomeric DNA block telomerase activity and may be potentially valuable as antitumor drugs.

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Figure 1: Guanine-rich telomeric DNA adopts several different conformations including G-quadruplexes, which interfere with the activity of the telomerase enzyme.
Figure 2: Chemical structure of compounds that stabilize G-quadruplex DNA.
Figure 3: Possible mechanism by which the formation of G-quadruplex DNA interferes with telomerase activity.

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Mergny, JL., Hélène, C. G-quadruplex DNA: A target for drug design. Nat Med 4, 1366–1367 (1998). https://doi.org/10.1038/3949

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