| Autor: |
Pagano A; Department of Pharmacy, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy., Iaccarino N; Department of Pharmacy, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy., Abdelhamid MAS; School of Pharmacy, University of East Anglia, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, United Kingdom., Brancaccio D; Department of Pharmacy, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy., Garzarella EU; Department of Pharmacy, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy., Di Porzio A; Department of Pharmacy, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy., Novellino E; Department of Pharmacy, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy., Waller ZAE; School of Pharmacy, University of East Anglia, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, United Kingdom.; Centre for Molecular and Structural Biochemistry, University of East Anglia, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, United Kingdom., Pagano B; Department of Pharmacy, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy., Amato J; Department of Pharmacy, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy., Randazzo A; Department of Pharmacy, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy. |
| Abstrakt: |
G-quadruplex (G4) and i-motif (iM) are four-stranded non-canonical nucleic acid structural arrangements. Recent evidences suggest that these DNA structures exist in living cells and could be involved in several cancer-related processes, thus representing an attractive target for anticancer drug discovery. Efforts toward the development of G4 targeting compounds have led to a number of effective bioactive ligands. Herein, employing several biophysical methodologies, we studied the ability of some well-known G4 ligands to interact with iM-forming DNA. The data showed that the investigated compounds are actually able to interact with both DNA in vitro , thus acting de facto as multi-target-directed agents. Interestingly, while all the compounds stabilize the G4, some of them significantly reduce the stability of the iM. The present study highlights the importance, when studying G4-targeting compounds, of evaluating also their behavior toward the i-motif counterpart. |
