G-quadruplex DNA: a potential target for anti-cancer drug design

In addition to the familiar duplex DNA, certain DNA sequences can fold into secondary structures that are four-stranded; because they are made up of g uanine (G) bases, such structures are called G-quadruplexes. Considerable c ircumstantial evidence suggests that these structures can exist in vivo in specific reg ions of the genome including the telomeric ends of chromosomes and oncogene regulatory regions. Recent studies have demonstrated that sma ll molecules can facilitate the formation of, and stabilize, G-quadruplexes . The possible role of G-quadruplex-interactive compounds as pharmacologica lly important molecules is explored in this article.