Northwestern Medicine Scientists Discover Role of G-quadruplexes in Genome Organization
Northwestern Medicine scientists have identified that G-quadruplexes (G4s), which are four-stranded DNA structures, play a crucial role in organizing the human genome and regulating gene activity. The study, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, reveals that G4s interact with the genome-organizing protein CTCF, influencing how DNA folds within cells and how genes are activated or deactivated. This discovery adds a new layer of understanding to genome regulation, as G4s are not encoded in the genome but form alternative structures that impact genetic regulation. The research team, led by Vipul Shukla, Ph.D., and Daniela Samaniego-Castruita, Ph.D., used proteomics to identify proteins that bind to G4s, finding that many are involved in essential cellular processes. The study highlights the significant role of G4s in chromatin loop formation, which is crucial for gene expression control. 
