Quadruplex DNA crystal structures and drug design.

The Cancer Research UK Biomolecular Structure Group, The School of Pharmacy, University of London, 29-39 Brunswick Square, London, WC1N 1AX, UK. stephen.neidle@pharmacy.ac.uk

Crystallographic studies of G-quadruplex nucleic acids have resulted in a small group of structures to date. Their morphological and detailed conformational features are described here, emphasizing the stability of the G-tetrad core and the flexibility of loops, especially upon ligand binding. Implications for drug design are discussed, in the context of the druggability of both telomeric and non-telomeric quadruplex DNAs.

PMID: 18395014 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]