Pyrene excimer fluorescence as a probe for parallel G-quadruplex formation

作者:Zhu Huihe; Lewis Frederick D*
来源:Bioconjugate Chemistry, 2007, 18(4): 1213-1217.
DOI:10.1021/bc060279u

摘要

The formation and properties of G-quadruplex structures from short single-strand oligonucleotide conjugates possessing two to four guanines and a 5'-terminal pyrenebutanol are reported. The 4-G conjugate forms a stable G-quadruplex under low or high potassium ion concentrations, whereas the 3-G conjugate forms a stable G-quadruplex only in the presence of high potassium. The 2-G conjugate fails to form a stable G-quadruplex even at low temperature and high potassium concentration. Both pyrene monomer and excimer fluorescence are observed for the G-quadruplex structures, whereas only monomer fluorescence is observed for the single-strand conjugates. Thus, pyrene excimer fluorescence can be used as a probe for the formation of G-quadruplex structures. The excimer/monomer intensity ratios for the G-quadruplex structures are dependent upon both the temperature and potassium or lithium salt concentration. The salt effect is attributed to a change in the structure of the hydrophobic pyrene chromophores, which are assembled on the 5'-face of the G-quadruplex as a consequence of electrostriction.