Guanine-rich sequences in DNA exhibit two interesting chemistries, a sensitivity to one-electron oxidation, and the ability to fold into non-canonical structures such as G-quadruplexes (G4s).  Oxidation of dG residues in DNA commonly leads to the mutagenic lesion 8-oxo-dG (or OG), and this damage can occur over long distances via charge transport in the duplex.  Because G tracks of 3 or more contiguous Gs have the lowest redox potential compared to other sequences, DNA oxidation by a one-electron oxidant is focused on G-rich sequences such as those that form G4s.  The abundance of G4 sequences at regulatory regions of the genome, such as gene promoters and intron splice sites, presents a dichotomy—are these oxidation-sensitive sites prone to mutagenesis or does oxidation of a G4 play a regulatory epigenetic role?<br/>

Free radical oxidation of guanine in DNA—mutagenic or epigenetic?

ACS Fall 2020 Virtual Meeting

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