Monovalent cation-induced structure of telomeric DNA: The G-quartet model

doi:10.1016/0092-8674(89)90610-7

Cell

Volume 59, Issue 5, 1 December 1989, Pages 871-880

https://doi.org/10.1016/0092-8674(89)90610-7 Get rights and content

Abstract

We have investigated the structures formed by oligonucleotides composed of two or four repeats of the telomeric sequences from Oxytricha and Tetrahymena. The Oxytricha four-repeat molecule (d(T₄G₄)₄ = Oxy-4) forms structures with increased electrophoretic mobility in nondenaturing gels containing Na⁺, K⁺, or Cs⁺, but not in gels containing Li⁺ or no added salt. Formation of the folded structure results in protection of a set of dG's from methylation by dimethyl sulfate. Efficient UV-induced cross-links are observed in Oxy-4 and the related sequence from Tetrahymena (d(T₂G₄)₄ = Tet-4), and join thymidine residues in different repeats. Models proposed to account for these data involve G-quartets, hydrogen-bonded structures formed from four guanosine residues in a square-planar array. We propose that the G-quartet structure must be dealt with in vivo by the telomere replication machinery.

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Cell

ArticleMonovalent cation-induced structure of telomeric DNA: The G-quartet model

Abstract

J. Mol. Biol.

Cell

Cell

Cell

Cell

Meth. Enzymol.

Cell

Cell

Cell

Cell

Cell

Biophys. J.

J. Biol. Chem.

J. Mol. Biol.

J. Mol. Biol.

The molecular structure of centromeres and telomeres

Annu. Rev. Biochem.

G-strings at chromosome ends

Nature

Stability constants of cyclic polyether complexes with univalent cations

J. Am. Chem. Soc.

Helix formation by guanylic acid

A telomeric sequence in the RNA of Tetrahymena telomerase required for telomere repeat synthesis

Nature

The effects of aqueous neutral-salt solutions on the melting temperatures of deoxyribonucleic acids

Biopolymers

An overhanging 3′ terminus is a conserved feature of telomeres

Mol. Cell. Biol.

Article
Monovalent cation-induced structure of telomeric DNA: The G-quartet model