Chiral Metallo-Supramolecular Complexes Selectively Induce Human Telomeric G-Quadruplex Formation under Salt-Deficient Conditions

Chiral molecular recognition of human telomeric DNA is important for rational drug design and developing structural probes of G-quadruplexes. Here we report that a chiral supramolecular complex can selectively induce human telomeric G-quadruplex formation and discriminate different G-quadruplex sequences under salt-deficient conditions studied by circular dichroism (CD), UV meltings, stopped-flow spectroscopy, fluorescence resonance energy transfer, enzyme cleavage, and gel electrophoresis. P-enantiomer induced G-quadruplex formation is fast and does not require a large excess of P enantiomer. More importantly, this chiral compound induces loop sequence-dependent G-quadruplex formation.