We have examined a number of carbocyanine dyes for their ability to bind in
tramolecular G-quadruplex DNA structures (G4 ' -DNA) using a Taq polymerase
stop assay. Of the five dyes examined, only one, N,N ' -diethylthiacarbocy
anine iodide (DTC), was found to bind to G4 ' -DNA. DTC was also the only d
ye found to inhibit human telomerase at 50 muM concentration. (C) 2001 Else
vier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.