Two-quartet kit* G-quadruplex is formed via double-stranded pre-folded structure.
Kotar, A., Rigo, R., Sissi, C., Plavec, J.(2019) Nucleic Acids Res 47: 2641-2653
- PubMed: 30590801 
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/nar/gky1269
- Primary Citation of Related Structures:  
6GH0 - PubMed Abstract: 
In the promoter of c-KIT proto-oncogene, whose deregulation has been implicated in many cancers, three G-rich regions (kit1, kit* and kit2) are able to fold into G-quadruplexes. While kit1 and kit2 have been studied in depth, little information is available on kit* folding behavior despite its key role in regulation of c-KIT transcription. Notably, kit* contains consensus sites for SP1 and AP2 transcription factors. Herein, a set of complementary spectroscopic and biophysical methods reveals that kit*, d[GGCGAGGAGGGGCGTGGCCGGC], adopts a chair type antiparallel G-quadruplex with two G-quartets at physiological relevant concentrations of KCl. Heterogeneous ensemble of structures is observed in the presence of Na+ and NH4+ ions, which however stabilize pre-folded structure. In the presence of K+ ions stacking interactions of adenine and thymine residues on the top G-quartet contribute to structural stability together with a G10•C18 base pair and a fold-back motif of the five residues at the 3'-terminal under the bottom G-quartet. The 3'-tail enables formation of a bimolecular pre-folded structure that drives folding of kit* into a single G-quadruplex. Intriguingly, kinetics of kit* G-quadruplex formation matches timescale of transcriptional processes and might demonstrate interplay of kinetic and thermodynamic factors for understanding regulation of c-KIT proto-oncogene expression.
Organizational Affiliation: 
Slovenian NMR Center, National Institute of Chemistry, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia.