Targeting human telomeric G-quadruplex with perfluoroalkyl metal phthalocyanine derivatives

The ability of G-quadruplex ligands to induce formation of four-stranded DNA and stabilize four-stranded DNA make them able to inhibit telomerase. This paper investigated the interaction of four perfluoroalkyl phthalocyanine metal derivatives with telomeric DNA sequence 5'-d[TTAGGG)4TT-3' by using circular dichrosim(CD), ultraviolet-visible and fluorescence spectroscopy, and molecular simulation method. Results show that perfluoroalkyl Zinic phthalocyanine can strongly induce the G-DNA in the buffer without extra K+/Na+ added with a molar ratio of 1:1 interaction possibly by intercalation into G-quartets, and only increases the amount of G-DNA in the presence of K+/Na+, with a compound/DNA 2:1 interaction possibly by external stacking model.