Bulges in left-handed G-quadruplexes

• Main Authors: Das, Poulomi, Ngo, Khac Huy, Winnerdy, Fernaldo Richtia, Maity, Arijit, Bakalar, Blaž, Mechulam, Yves, Schmitt, Emmanuelle, Phan, Anh Tuân
• Other Authors: School of Physical and Mathematical Sciences
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: 2021
• Subjects: Science::Biological sciences; Crystallography; X-Ray
• Online Access: https://hdl.handle.net/10356/153872
• Institution: Nanyang Technological University

G-quadruplex (G4) DNA structures with a left-handed backbone progression have unique and conserved structural features. Studies on sequence dependency of the structures revealed the prerequisites and some minimal motifs required for left-handed G4 formation. To extend the boundaries, we explore the adaptability of left-handed G4s towards the existence of bulges. Here we present two X-ray crystal structures and an NMR solution structure of left-handed G4s accommodating one, two and three bulges. Bulges in left-handed G4s show distinct characteristics as compared to those in right-handed G4s. The elucidation of intricate structural details will help in understanding the possible roles and limitations of these unique structures.