Dye-functionalized phosphate-binding macrocycles: from nucleotide to G-quadruplex recognition and turn-on fluorescence sensing

A novel strategy to design turn-on fluorescent receptors for G-quadruplexes of DNA is presented, which relies on the connection of phosphate binding macrocycles (PBM) with naphthalimide dyes. A new PBM-dye family was synthesized and evaluated in terms of binding and detection of nucleotides and DNA G-quadruplexes of different topologies.

Automated summary

A novel strategy was developed to design turn-on fluorescent receptors for DNA G-quadruplexes, utilizing the combination of phosphate binding macrocycles (PBM) with naphthalimide dyes. A new PBM-dye family was synthesized and evaluated for its binding and detection abilities towards nucleotides and DNA G-quadruplexes of varied topologies.