Abstract

The role of guanine quadruplexes (G4) in fundamental biological processes like DNA replication, transcription, translation and telomere maintenance is recognized. G4 structure dynamics is regulated by G4 structure binding proteins and is thought to be crucial for the maintenance of genome integrity in both prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells. Growing research over the last decade has expanded the existing knowledge of the functional diversity of G4 (DNA and RNA) structures across the working models. The control of G4 structure dynamics using G4 binding drugs has been suggested as the putative targets in the control of cancer and bacterial pathogenesis. This review has brought forth the collections of recent information that indicate G4 (mostly G4 DNA) roles in microbial pathogenesis, DNA damaging stress response in bacteria and mammalian cells. Studies in mitochondrial gene function regulation by G4s have also been underscored. Finally, the interdependence of G4s and epigenetic modifications and their speculated medical implications through G4 interacting proteins has been discussed.

摘要

鸟嘌呤四链体 (G4) 在 DNA 复制、转录、翻译和端粒维持等基本生物过程中的作用已得到认可。G4 结构动力学由 G4 结构结合蛋白调节，被认为对于维持原核和真核细胞中的基因组完整性至关重要。过去十年中不断增长的研究扩展了对工作模型中 G4（DNA 和 RNA）结构功能多样性的现有知识。已建议使用 G4 结合药物控制 G4 结构动力学作为控制癌症和细菌发病机制的推定靶标。这篇综述收集了最近的信息，这些信息表明 G4（主要是 G4 DNA）在微生物发病机制、细菌和哺乳动物细胞中 DNA 损伤应激反应中的作用。G4s对线粒体基因功能调节的研究也得到了强调。最后，讨论了 G4 和表观遗传修饰的相互依赖性以及它们通过 G4 相互作用蛋白推测的医学意义。