Molecules: You'd better learn to live with them.
As discussed in the entry on telomestatin, drugs that bind to guanine quadruplexes are of a lot of interest. One model compound is TMPyP (tetrakis(N-methylpyridyl)porphyrin)). The idea is that the big aromatic porphyrin surface stacks on the guanines, and the positive pyridinium moieties are near the negative DNA phosphates for a favorable Coulombic interaction. It's probably the most studied quadruplex ligand.
There isn't a lot I can say about quadruplexes, telomeres, and why they're important that I didn't cover in the telomestatin entry.
Comments
Probably a singlet oxygen sensitizer, too. If one is going to all the trouble to make porphyrins, one might as well try phthalocyanines. Substituted phthalonitriles are pussycats. All it takes is a little TFA in dry MeCN. Diddle with quaternized 3,4-pyridinodinitriles if you like ("how much worse can they be?" said PI to the grad student).
Posted by: Uncle Al | February 10, 2007 1:48 PM
Thanks UA,
MTOD makes me learn enough and then you have to step it up a couple notches. Best way to learn, thanks.
Posted by: KevinC | February 11, 2007 4:56 PM