G-quadruplexes: Emerging roles in neurodegenerative diseases and the non-coding transcriptome

G-rich sequences in DNA and RNA have a propensity to fold into stable secondary structures termed G-quadruplexes. G-quadruplex forming sequences are widespread throughout the human genome, within both, protein coding and non-coding genes, and regulatory regions. G-quadruplexes have been implicated i...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:FEBS letters 2015-06, Vol.589 (14), p.1653-1668
Main Authors: Simone, Roberto, Fratta, Pietro, Neidle, Stephen, Parkinson, Gary N., Isaacs, Adrian M.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
G-quadruplex
G-Quadruplexes
Humans
Neurodegenerative diseases
Neurodegenerative Diseases - genetics
Non-coding RNA
Transcriptome
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Summary:G-rich sequences in DNA and RNA have a propensity to fold into stable secondary structures termed G-quadruplexes. G-quadruplex forming sequences are widespread throughout the human genome, within both, protein coding and non-coding genes, and regulatory regions. G-quadruplexes have been implicated in multiple cellular functions including chromatin epigenetic regulation, DNA recombination, transcriptional regulation of gene promoters and enhancers, and translation. Here we will review the evidence for the occurrence of G-quadruplexes both in vitro and in vivo; their role in neurological diseases including G-quadruplex-forming repeat expansions in the C9orf72 gene in frontotemporal dementia and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and loss of the G-quadruplex binding protein FMRP in the intellectual disability fragile X syndrome. We also review mounting evidence that supports a role for G-quadruplexes in regulating the processing or function of a range of non-coding RNAs. Finally we will highlight current perspectives for therapeutic interventions that target G-quadruplexes.
ISSN:0014-5793
1873-3468
DOI:10.1016/j.febslet.2015.05.003