End-ligation can dramatically stabilize i-motifs at neutral pH?

Chemical Communications Pub Date: 2023-03-02 DOI: 10.1039/D2CC07063D

Abstract

Stabilizing i-motif structures at neutral pH and physiological temperature remains a major challenge. Here, we demonstrate the use of chemical end-ligation to stabilize intramolecular i-motifs at both acidic and neutral pH. We also demonstrate that combining 2′-deoxy-2′-fluoroarabinocytidine substitutions and end-ligation results in an i-motif with an unparalleled thermal stability of 54 °C at neutral pH. Overall, the ligated i-motifs presented herein may be used in screens for selective i-motif ligands and proteins and could find important applications in nanotechnology.

Graphical abstract: End-ligation can dramatically stabilize i-motifs at neutral pH
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