"Fascinating NMR Structures of DNA Beyond Double Helix"

Janez Plavec, Ph.D.
Slovenian NMR Center
National Institute of Chemistry
University of Ljubljana, Slovenia

The distribution of G-rich sequences in the human genome is not random and their overrepresentation in the 5'-ends of human genes suggests that G-quadruplex formation may influence gene expression. G-quadruplexes are very structurally diverse. Numerous G-quadruplex structural characteristics indicate that even for relatively simple G-rich DNA or RNA sequences possible structural motifs are still not known entirely. It is impossible to unequivocally predict folding topology from oligonucleotide sequence and assess its thermodynamic stability at the current state of knowledge. Both are however crucial for understanding biological functions of G-quadruplexes as well as for the use of these noncanonical structures as targets in development of new anticancer and antiviral drugs and in nanotechnological applications. NMR studies have contributed important insight to the field over the years.