• Question: What is a G-quadruplex cell

    Asked by Fifi to Jenny on 15 Nov 2016.
    • Photo: Jenny Batson

      Jenny Batson answered on 15 Nov 2016:


      Hi Fifi
      I hadn’t actually heard of a G-quadruplex cell but I just had a look and there are some really cool (and complex) studies on G-quadruplexes. A G-quadruplex is a type of DNA structure. There are 4 building blocks in DNA; G, C, T and A. A G-quadruplex is the name for a shape the DNA can form when it has a lot of G and folds due to bonding between the Gs. There was a good paper recently suggesting that G-quadruplex interacting drugs might be a way to treat breast cancer because the G-quadruplex makes the DNA weak and can cause the usual controls on cell growth to go wrong.
      Its a really good question, how did you hear about G-quadruplexes?
      Jenny

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