Guanine-rich DNA sequences may fold back into non-canonical four-stranded secondary structures termed as G-quadruplexes. The role of G-quadruplexes has already been well established in different diseases like cancer, neurological and viral disorders etc. Also, several small molecules have been reported, which can influence the involvement of G-quadruplexes either through stabilization or destabilization in the cellular environment. Growing statistics have associated G-quadruplex assemblies to a discrete biological process in vivo, including DNA replication, transcription, genomic stability, and epigenetic regulation. DNA G-quadruplex existence in human telomere is well recognized attractive target for anticancer drugs. G-quadruplex-interactive ligands have been known to prevent telomerase access as well as telomere capping. To the best of our understanding, the role of G-quadruplexes in virology, neuropharmacology, cancer progression and its treatment has not been discussed on a single platform till date. This review aims to enhance our knowledge regarding these magical sticky quadruplex structures, which have been quite significantly proved to be the part of many cellular processes along with their established in vivo existence. Understanding regarding stabilizing or destabilizing ligands of these multistranded guanine quadruplex structures might be proved as the facilitator of drug discovery process for many incurable diseases in future.

富含鸟嘌呤的 DNA 序列可以折叠成非规范的四链二级结构，称为 G-四链体。G-四链体在癌症、神经和病毒性疾病等不同疾病中的作用已经得到很好的证实。此外，已经报道了几种小分子，它们可以通过细胞环境中的稳定或不稳定来影响 G-四链体的参与. 越来越多的统计数据已将 G-四链体组件与体内离散的生物过程相关联，包括 DNA 复制、转录、基因组稳定性和表观遗传调控。人类端粒中存在的 DNA G-四链体是公认的具有吸引力的抗癌药物靶标。已知 G-四链体相互作用配体可防止端粒酶进入以及端粒加帽。据我们所知，迄今为止，尚未在单一平台上讨论 G-四链体在病毒学、神经药理学、癌症进展及其治疗中的作用。这篇综述旨在增强我们对这些神奇的粘性四链体结构的认识，这些结构已被相当显着地证明是许多细胞过程的一部分，以及它们在体内建立的过程存在。对这些多链鸟嘌呤四链体结构的稳定或不稳定配体的了解可能被证明是未来许多无法治愈的疾病的药物发现过程的促进者。