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.
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A few months ago, a group published a report that this polyamine was an effective quadruplex ligand, inducing senescence of cancer cells.
It's been interesting to watch as microbiology's own cold fusion debate has been raging. It began with an extraordinary claim about bacteria using arsenate as a replacement when phosphate concentrations are low (1).
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).
Thanks UA,
MTOD makes me learn enough and then you have to step it up a couple notches. Best way to learn, thanks.