Structural Differences at Quadruplex-Duplex Interfaces Enable Ligand-Induced Topological Transitions.
Vianney, Y.M., Dierks, D., Weisz, K.(2024) Adv Sci (Weinh) 11: e2309891-e2309891
- PubMed: 38477454 
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/advs.202309891
- Primary Citation of Related Structures:  
8R6D, 8R6G, 8R6H - PubMed Abstract: 
Quadruplex-duplex (QD) junctions, which represent unique structural motifs of both biological and technological significance, have been shown to constitute high-affinity binding sites for various ligands. A QD hybrid construct based on a human telomeric sequence, which harbors a duplex stem-loop in place of a short lateral loop, is structurally characterized by NMR. It folds into two major species with a (3+1) hybrid and a chair-type (2+2) antiparallel quadruplex domain coexisting in a K + buffer solution. The antiparallel species is stabilized by an unusual capping structure involving a thymine and protonated adenine base AH + of the lateral loop facing the hairpin duplex to form a T·AH + ·G·C quartet with the interfacial G·C base pair at neutral pH. Addition and binding of Phen-DC 3 to the QD hybrid mixture by its partial intercalation at corresponding QD junctions leads to a topological transition with exclusive formation of the (3+1) hybrid fold. In agreement with the available experimental data, such an unprecedented discrimination of QD junctions by a ligand can be rationalized following an induced fit mechanism.
Organizational Affiliation: 
Institut für Biochemie, Universität Greifswald, Felix-Hausdorff-Str. 4, D-17489, Greifswald, Germany.