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Chemistry and biology of DNA-binding small molecules

Paul, Ananya and Bhattacharya, Santanu (2012) Chemistry and biology of DNA-binding small molecules. In: Current Science (Bangalore), 102 (2). pp. 212-231.

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Abstract

Regulation of the transcription machinery is one of the many ways to achieve control of gene expression. This has been done either at the transcription initiation stage or at the elongation stage. Different methodologies are known to inhibit transcription initiation via targeting of double-stranded (ds) DNA by: (i) synthetic oligonucleotides, (ii) ds-DNA-specific, sequenceselective minor-groove binders (distamycin A), intercalators (daunomycin) combilexins and (iii) small molecule (peptide or intercalator)-oligonucleotide conjugates. In some cases, instead of ds-DNA, higher order G-quadruplex structures are formed at the start site of transcription. In this regard G-quadruplex DNA-specific small molecules play a significant role towards inhibition of the transcription machinery. Different types of designer DNA-binding agents act as powerful sequence-specific gene modulators, by exerting their effect from transcription regulation to gene modification. But most of these chemotherapeutic agents have serious side effects. Accordingly, there is always a challenge to design such DNA-binding molecules that should not only achieve maximum specific DNA-binding affinity, and cellular and nuclear transport activity, but also would not interfere with the functions of normal cells.

Item Type: Journal Article
Publication: Current Science (Bangalore)
Publisher: Indian Academy of Sciences
Additional Information: Copyright of this article belongs to Indian Academy of Sciences.
Keywords: DNA-binding molecules;duplex DNA;G-quadruplex structures; transcription
Department/Centre: Division of Chemical Sciences > Organic Chemistry
Date Deposited: 12 Mar 2012 12:04
Last Modified: 12 Mar 2012 12:04
URI: http://eprints.iisc.ac.in/id/eprint/43711

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