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Identification of Compounds that Selectively Stabilize Specific G‐Quadruplex Structures by Using a Thioflavin T‐Displacement Assay as a Tool
Author(s) -
Jamroskovic Jan,
Livendahl Madeleine,
Eriksson Jonas,
Chorell Erik,
Sabouri Nasim
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
chemistry – a european journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.687
H-Index - 242
eISSN - 1521-3765
pISSN - 0947-6539
DOI - 10.1002/chem.201603463
Subject(s) - thioflavin , chemistry , g quadruplex , small molecule , dna , stereochemistry , fluorescence , schizosaccharomyces pombe , molecule , selectivity , combinatorial chemistry , biophysics , biochemistry , biology , organic chemistry , medicine , physics , disease , pathology , quantum mechanics , gene , mutant , alzheimer's disease , catalysis
Small molecules are used in the G‐quadruplex (G4) research field in vivo and in vitro, and there are increasing demands for ligands that selectively stabilize different G4 structures. Thioflavin T (ThT) emits an enhanced fluorescence signal when binding to G4 structures. Herein, we show that ThT can be competitively displaced by the binding of small molecules to G4 structures and develop a ThT‐displacement high‐throughput screening assay to find novel and selective G4‐binding compounds. We screened approximately 28 000 compounds by using three different G4 structures and identified eight novel G4 binders. Analysis of the structural conformation and stability of the G4 structures in presence of these compounds demonstrated that the four compounds enhance the thermal stabilization of the structures without affecting their structural conformation. In addition, all four compounds also increased the G4‐structure block of DNA synthesis by Taq DNA polymerase. Also, two of these compounds showed selectivity between certain Schizosaccharomyces pombe G4 structures, thus suggesting that these compounds or their analogues can be used as selective tools for G4 DNA studies.