A chiral wedge molecule inhibits telomerase activity

J Am Chem Soc. 2010 Mar 24;132(11):3778-82. doi: 10.1021/ja908897j.

Abstract

In addition to the Watson-Crick double helix, secondary DNA structures are thought to play important roles in a variety of biological processes. One important example is the G-quadruplex structure that is formed at the chromosome ends, which inhibits telomerase activity by blocking its access to telomeres. G-quadruplex structures represent a new class of molecular targets for DNA-interactive compounds that may be useful to target telomeres. Here, we reported the first example of enantioselective recognition of quadruplex DNA by a chiral cyclic helicene. We propose a new ligand-binding cleft between two telomeric human G-quadruplexes linked by a TTA linker. We found that the cyclic helicene M1 exhibited potent inhibitory activity against telomerase.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Base Sequence
  • DNA / chemistry
  • DNA / genetics
  • DNA / metabolism
  • DNA, Z-Form / chemistry
  • DNA, Z-Form / genetics
  • DNA, Z-Form / metabolism
  • Enzyme Inhibitors / chemistry*
  • Enzyme Inhibitors / metabolism
  • Enzyme Inhibitors / pharmacology*
  • G-Quadruplexes / drug effects
  • Humans
  • Jurkat Cells
  • Models, Molecular
  • Polycyclic Compounds / chemistry*
  • Polycyclic Compounds / metabolism
  • Polycyclic Compounds / pharmacology*
  • Stereoisomerism
  • Substrate Specificity
  • Telomerase / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Telomerase / metabolism

Substances

  • DNA, Z-Form
  • Enzyme Inhibitors
  • Polycyclic Compounds
  • helicenes
  • DNA
  • Telomerase