The i-Motif as a Molecular Target: More Than a Complementary DNA Secondary Structure

The i-Motif as a Molecular Target: More Than a Complementary DNA Secondary Structure

Blog Article

Stretches of cytosine-rich DNA are capable of adopting a dynamic secondary structure, the i-motif.When within promoter regions, the i-motif has the potential to act as a molecular switch for controlling gene Tray expression.However, i-motif structures in genomic areas of repetitive nucleotide sequences may play a role in facilitating or hindering expansion of these DNA elements.Despite research on the i-motif trailing behind the complementary G-quadruplex structure, recent discoveries including the identification of a specific i-motif Animatronic antibody are pushing this field forward.This perspective reviews initial and current work characterizing the i-motif and providing insight into the biological function of this DNA structure, with a focus on how the i-motif can serve as a molecular target for developing new therapeutic approaches to modulate gene expression and extension of repetitive DNA.