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DNA complexes

Durable binders

Nature Chemistry volume 3, pages 836–837 (2011)Cite this article

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A tetra-intercalator compound that threads through a DNA double-helix to form a remarkably stable complex exhibits an unusual combination of sequence specificity and rapid association yet slow dissociation.

The ability to program molecules to bind to specific sequences of DNA with high fidelity and stability is an important goal of chemical biology. Such molecules can compete with transcription-factor proteins and thus modulate the transcription of genes. They are therefore promising for both elucidating the complex regulation of mammalian gene expression, and developing pharmaceuticals and medical diagnostics targeted to genetic abberations1,2,3. Writing in Nature Chemistry, Brent Iverson and co-workers have now described4 the excellent sequence specificity and unusual binding kinetics of a stable DNA–ligand complex, which exhibits a half-life of 16 days.

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Figure 1: Schematic representation of DNA–ligand complexes.

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  1. Adam R. Urbach is at the Department of Chemistry, Trinity University, One Trinity Place, San Antonio, Texas 78212, USA,

    Adam R. Urbach

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  1. Adam R. Urbach
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Correspondence to Adam R. Urbach.

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Urbach, A. Durable binders. Nature Chem 3, 836–837 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1038/nchem.1173

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