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Formation and Characterization of PNA-Containing Heteroquadruplexes

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Peptide Nucleic Acids

Part of the book series: Methods in Molecular Biology ((MIMB,volume 1050))

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Abstract

The guanine quadruplex is a secondary structure formed by DNA and RNA that has been implicated in regulation of gene expression and maintenance of genome stability. Guanine-rich PNA oligomers can invade DNA or RNA quadruplex targets to form heteroquadruplex structures. Affinities in the low nanomolar range are routinely observed, making PNAs among the tightest binding of all quadruplex-targeted agents. Although inherently more promiscuous than heteroduplex formation based on Watson–Crick pairing, selectivity of heteroquadruplex formation can be improved through rational design of the sequence and backbone structure of the PNA. This chapter presents design rules and methods for characterizing PNA–DNA/RNA heteroquadruplexes.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Chemistry, Center for Nucleic Acids Science and Technology, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA, USA

    Bruce A. Armitage

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  1. Bruce A. Armitage
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Dept. Cellular & Molecular Medicine, University of Copenhagen Faculty of Health Sciences, Copenhagen N, Denmark

    Peter E Nielsen

  2. NIH NIDDK, Bethesda, USA

    Daniel H. Appella

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Armitage, B.A. (2014). Formation and Characterization of PNA-Containing Heteroquadruplexes. In: Nielsen, P., Appella, D. (eds) Peptide Nucleic Acids. Methods in Molecular Biology, vol 1050. Humana Press, Totowa, NJ. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-62703-553-8_6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-62703-553-8_6

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  • Publisher Name: Humana Press, Totowa, NJ

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-62703-552-1

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-62703-553-8

  • eBook Packages: Springer Protocols

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