An Improved Model for the hTERT Promoter Quadruplex

May 22, 2018

Title

An Improved Model for the hTERT Promoter Quadruplex

Author

Jonathan B. Chaires, John O. Trent, Robert D. Gray, William L. Dean, Robert Buscaglia, Shelia D. Thomas, Donald M. Miller

Year

2014

Journal

PLoS ONE

Abstract

Mutations occur at four specific sites in the hTERT promoter in >75% of glioblastomas and melanomas, but the mechanism by which the mutations affect gene expression remains unexplained. We report biophysical computational studies that show that the hTERT promoter sequence forms a novel G-quadruplex structure consisting of three contiguous, stacked parallel quadruplexes. The reported hTERT mutations map to the central quadruplex within this structure, and lead to an alteration of its hydrodynamic properties and stability.

Instrument

FP-6500

Keywords

Fluorescence, DNA structure, Polarization, Thermal stability, Biochemistry