Fluorescence light-up probe for parallel G-quadruplexes

Anal Chem. 2014 Jan 7;86(1):943-52. doi: 10.1021/ac403676x. Epub 2013 Dec 19.

Abstract

Putative G-quadruplex-forming sequences (PQS) are highly prevalent in human genome; however, the structures and functions of most PQSs in genome are poorly understood. Therefore, selective recognition of certain types of G-quadruplexes (G4s) is important for the study of G4s. A new light up fluorescent probe, BPBC composed of benzimidazole and carbazole moieties was designed and synthesized. BPBC possesses a crescent-shaped π-conjugated planar core that is slightly larger than the dimension of the G-quartet plane in G4s. This structure endows BPBC with excellent selectivity to parallel G4s. BPBC exhibits almost no fluorescence in the aqueous buffer condition, its fluorescence increases approximately 330-1800-fold in the presence of parallel G4s but only about 30-fold in the presence of single/double-stranded (ss/ds) DNA and 30-110-fold in the presence of antiparallel G4s. Binding studies indicate that the highly selective fluorescent response of BPBC arises from end-stack binding model to G-quartet.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Fluorescent Dyes / chemistry*
  • G-Quadruplexes*
  • Humans
  • Protein Structure, Secondary

Substances

  • Fluorescent Dyes