Journal
METHODS
Volume 57, Issue 1, Pages 93-99Publisher
ACADEMIC PRESS INC ELSEVIER SCIENCE
DOI: 10.1016/j.ymeth.2012.02.010
Keywords
Telomeric G-quadruplex structure; G-quadruplex ligands; Telomere uncapping
Funding
- Italian Association for Cancer Research (A.I.R.C.) [11567]
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The burgeoning knowledge about the structure of telomeres and the roles of various factors involved in telomere maintenance provides several possible targets for pharmacological intervention. To date the area that has received major attention regarding drug discovery is the targeting the telomeric G-quadruplex (G4) structure. G4 ligands were initially designed to counteract telomerase action at telomeres. Surprisingly, their antiproliferative effects can occur in telomerase negative cells and follow kinetics, which cannot be merely explained by telomere shortening, suggesting that these compounds affect other pathways, not necessarily related to telomere biology. Impressively, it has been shown that polyaromatic compounds featuring end-stacking binding properties trigger a strong DNA damage response at telomeres. This is typical of the telomere deprotection occurring during cellular senescence or upon telomere injury. It emerged that the G4-interacting agents are more than simple telomerase inhibitors and that their direct target is rather telomere than telomerase. This review summarizes the most valid experimental approaches for studying the pharmacological telomere damage induced by G4-ligand complexes. (C) 2012 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
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