Ligands as Stabilizers of G-Quadruplexes in Non-Coding RNAs
The non-coding RNAs (ncRNA) are RNA transcripts with different sizes, structures and biological functions that do not encode functional proteins. RNA G-quadruplexes (rG4s) have been found in small and long ncRNAs. The existence of an equilibrium between rG4 and stem−loop structures in ncRNAs and its...
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MDPI AG
2021-10-01
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| Series: | Molecules |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/26/20/6164 |
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| author | Joana Figueiredo Tiago Santos André Miranda Daniela Alexandre Bernardo Teixeira Pedro Simões Jéssica Lopes-Nunes Carla Cruz |
| author_facet | Joana Figueiredo Tiago Santos André Miranda Daniela Alexandre Bernardo Teixeira Pedro Simões Jéssica Lopes-Nunes Carla Cruz |
| author_sort | Joana Figueiredo |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The non-coding RNAs (ncRNA) are RNA transcripts with different sizes, structures and biological functions that do not encode functional proteins. RNA G-quadruplexes (rG4s) have been found in small and long ncRNAs. The existence of an equilibrium between rG4 and stem−loop structures in ncRNAs and its effect on biological processes remains unexplored. For example, deviation from the stem−loop leads to deregulated mature miRNA levels, demonstrating that miRNA biogenesis can be modulated by ions or small molecules. In light of this, we report several examples of rG4s in certain types of ncRNAs, and the implications of G4 stabilization using small molecules, also known as G4 ligands, in the regulation of gene expression, miRNA biogenesis, and miRNA−mRNA interactions. Until now, different G4 ligands scaffolds were synthesized for these targets. The regulatory role of the above-mentioned rG4s in ncRNAs can be used as novel therapeutic approaches for adjusting miRNA levels. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T06:21:19Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-a7c61f7d2e744e3ebcc33583613eed60 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1420-3049 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T06:21:19Z |
| publishDate | 2021-10-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
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| series | Molecules |
| spelling | doaj.art-a7c61f7d2e744e3ebcc33583613eed602023-11-22T19:19:03ZengMDPI AGMolecules1420-30492021-10-012620616410.3390/molecules26206164Ligands as Stabilizers of G-Quadruplexes in Non-Coding RNAsJoana Figueiredo0Tiago Santos1André Miranda2Daniela Alexandre3Bernardo Teixeira4Pedro Simões5Jéssica Lopes-Nunes6Carla Cruz7CICS-UBI—Centro de Investigação em Ciências da Saúde, Universidade da Beira Interior, Av. Infante D. Hen-rique, 6200-506 Covilhã, PortugalCICS-UBI—Centro de Investigação em Ciências da Saúde, Universidade da Beira Interior, Av. Infante D. Hen-rique, 6200-506 Covilhã, PortugalCICS-UBI—Centro de Investigação em Ciências da Saúde, Universidade da Beira Interior, Av. Infante D. Hen-rique, 6200-506 Covilhã, PortugalCICS-UBI—Centro de Investigação em Ciências da Saúde, Universidade da Beira Interior, Av. Infante D. Hen-rique, 6200-506 Covilhã, PortugalCICS-UBI—Centro de Investigação em Ciências da Saúde, Universidade da Beira Interior, Av. Infante D. Hen-rique, 6200-506 Covilhã, PortugalCICS-UBI—Centro de Investigação em Ciências da Saúde, Universidade da Beira Interior, Av. Infante D. Hen-rique, 6200-506 Covilhã, PortugalCICS-UBI—Centro de Investigação em Ciências da Saúde, Universidade da Beira Interior, Av. Infante D. Hen-rique, 6200-506 Covilhã, PortugalCICS-UBI—Centro de Investigação em Ciências da Saúde, Universidade da Beira Interior, Av. Infante D. Hen-rique, 6200-506 Covilhã, PortugalThe non-coding RNAs (ncRNA) are RNA transcripts with different sizes, structures and biological functions that do not encode functional proteins. RNA G-quadruplexes (rG4s) have been found in small and long ncRNAs. The existence of an equilibrium between rG4 and stem−loop structures in ncRNAs and its effect on biological processes remains unexplored. For example, deviation from the stem−loop leads to deregulated mature miRNA levels, demonstrating that miRNA biogenesis can be modulated by ions or small molecules. In light of this, we report several examples of rG4s in certain types of ncRNAs, and the implications of G4 stabilization using small molecules, also known as G4 ligands, in the regulation of gene expression, miRNA biogenesis, and miRNA−mRNA interactions. Until now, different G4 ligands scaffolds were synthesized for these targets. The regulatory role of the above-mentioned rG4s in ncRNAs can be used as novel therapeutic approaches for adjusting miRNA levels.https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/26/20/6164non-coding RNAsmiRNA biogenesisRNA G-quadruplexligands |
| spellingShingle | Joana Figueiredo Tiago Santos André Miranda Daniela Alexandre Bernardo Teixeira Pedro Simões Jéssica Lopes-Nunes Carla Cruz Ligands as Stabilizers of G-Quadruplexes in Non-Coding RNAs Molecules non-coding RNAs miRNA biogenesis RNA G-quadruplex ligands |
| title | Ligands as Stabilizers of G-Quadruplexes in Non-Coding RNAs |
| title_full | Ligands as Stabilizers of G-Quadruplexes in Non-Coding RNAs |
| title_fullStr | Ligands as Stabilizers of G-Quadruplexes in Non-Coding RNAs |
| title_full_unstemmed | Ligands as Stabilizers of G-Quadruplexes in Non-Coding RNAs |
| title_short | Ligands as Stabilizers of G-Quadruplexes in Non-Coding RNAs |
| title_sort | ligands as stabilizers of g quadruplexes in non coding rnas |
| topic | non-coding RNAs miRNA biogenesis RNA G-quadruplex ligands |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/26/20/6164 |
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