Single-Molecule Analysis of Human Telomere Sequence Interactions with G-quadruplex Ligand

Anal Chem. 2016 Apr 19;88(8):4533-40. doi: 10.1021/acs.analchem.6b00555. Epub 2016 Apr 6.

Abstract

Ligands that selectively promote the formation of G-quadruplexes in human telomeres have great potential for cancer treatment by inhibiting the telomere extension by telomerase. Thus, understanding the interactions of the G-quadruplex ligands with the telomere sequence at the single-molecule level is of significant importance. Here, human telomere sequence interactions with a small molecule ligand pyridostatin (PDS) were analyzed via α-hemolysin protein nanopore, and a nanopore thermodynamic analytical method was proposed. The prolonged unraveling time of the telomeric DNA G-quadruplex after PDS binding demonstrated the potent stabilization effect of ligand on G-quadruplex structure. The signature two-level electronic blocks generated by K(+)-PDS-G-quadruplex complexes suggested a two-state unraveling process, including the dissociation of the interquartet cation and the unraveling of the cation-free ligand-bound G-quadruplex. The translocation studies and the analysis of free-energy changes demonstrated a ligand-binding mode in which PDS molecule and K(+) were simultaneously bound to one G-quadruplex structure with the coordinated effect on G-quadruplex stabilization. The single-molecular nanopore platform permits the efficient and accurate determination of ligand affinity constants without the requirement for labeling, amplification, or ligand/receptor titration, which provides a general analytical tool for effectively monitoring and quantifying the G-quadruplex/ligand interactions, possessing important implications for the design and screen of anticancer drugs.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Aminoquinolines / chemistry*
  • Base Sequence
  • G-Quadruplexes*
  • Hemolysin Proteins / chemistry*
  • Humans
  • Ligands
  • Nanopores
  • Picolinic Acids / chemistry*
  • Potassium / chemistry
  • Single Molecule Imaging*
  • Telomere / chemistry*
  • Thermodynamics

Substances

  • Aminoquinolines
  • Hemolysin Proteins
  • Ligands
  • Picolinic Acids
  • pyridostatin
  • Potassium