Physics

Antiparallel (mathematics)

Telomere

Biology

Gene

Magnetic field

Tetrad

Molecular biology

In vitro

Xenopus

HeLa

Quantum mechanics

Cell biology

Genetics

G-quadruplex

Nucleic Acids Research

Although the telomeric sequence has been reported to form various G-quadruplex topologies in vitro and in Xenopus laevis oocytes, in living human cells, the topology of telomeric DNA G-quadruplex remains a challenge. To investigate the human telomeric DNA G-quadruplex in a more realistic human cell environment, in the present study, we demonstrated that the telomeric DNA sequence can form two hybrid-type and two-tetrad antiparallel G-quadruplex structures by in-cell 19F NMR in living human cells (HELA CELLS). This result provides valuable information for understanding the structures of human telomeric DNA in living human cells and for the design of new drugs that target telomeric DNA.

Hybrid-type and two-tetrad antiparallel telomere DNA G-quadruplex structures in living human cells