Sequences of DNA nucleotides containing poly-guanine (G) segments and their poly-cytosine (C) complementary strands are capable of forming secondary structures in vivo.  Although the biological role of these non-B DNA structures is uncertain, the preponderance of these structures near transcriptional start sites suggests a regulatory function.  G-rich DNA can form a 4-stranded entity called a G-quadruplex (G4), while C-rich DNA can form an i-Motif (iM) from 6 hemiprotonated cytosines.  The G4 and iM are most frequently associated with genes responsible for cell growth, including the proliferation and metabolic factor MYC and vascular endothelial growth factor, but only the G4 has been widely studied.  Coincidentally, the energetics of iM formation remain unknown.  In this study, binding of PCBP-2 to the iM was quantified in order to elucidate the contribution of protein-binding to the energetics of iM formation in vivo.

Energetic contribution of poly(C) binding protein-2  (PCBP-2) in the formation of the i-Motif

247th National Meeting (2014)

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