DNA TETRAPLEX FORMATION IN THE CONTROL REGION OF C-MYC

The c-myc oncogene is one of the most commonly malfunctioning genes in human cancers, and is an attractive target for anti-gene therapy. Alt hough synthetic oligonucleotides designed to silence c-myc expression via one of its major control elements function well in vitro, their mo de of action has been indefinite, Here we show that the targeted contr ol element adopts an intrastrand fold-back DNA tetraplex, which requir es potassium ions for stability in vitro. We believe formation of the tetraplex is important for c-myc activation in vivo, and propose a tra nscription initiation mechanism that explains how anti-gene therapy si lence c-myc at the molecular level.