Recent Advances of G-Quadruplexes In Vivo and In Vitro

Dear Colleagues,

G-quadruplex (G4) structures formed by the stacking of G-quartets with the Hoogsteen hydrogen bonding of four guanines under physiological conditions have recently gained much attention as possible targets for human cancer. Accumulating evidence on the biological functions of G4 structures in regulating multiple cellular processes support the existence of G4 structures in vivo. Recently, imaging-based studies on G4 antibodies and G4 ligands for visualizing the presence of G4s in cells showed more G4 formations in cancer cells than in normal cells. These findings lay the foundation for further studies about the details of G4 formation, and give deeper insight into G4 functions in vivo for a better understanding of the G4 structural biology at a molecular level. Another challenge in G4 research is structural determination. Given that the structural properties of G4s are critical for designing the theranostic G4 ligands for human cancer, many questions on structural variation as a result of sequence deviation are yet to be addressed. For example, different loop and flanking nucleotides in G-rich sequences may cause dramatic differences in G4 structures, even in vitro. In addition, the structural diversity and polymorphism of some G-rich sequences could pose more challenges for the structural analysis. More studies of the thermal stability and kinetic competition, as well as the folding and unfolding pathways of G4s may provide more comprehensive elucidation on such questions and challenges. The translation of G4 knowledge from in vitro to in vivo is currently a cutting-edge research in G4s. This Special Issue covers all aspects of the recent advances of G4 research, including sequence variation for G4 formations, G4 structures, G4 functions, G4 biology, G4 ligands, G4 specific antibodies, and, particularly, the development of methods and techniques for G4 research.

Dr. Ta-Chau Chang
Guest Editor

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