Consecutive Formation of G‐Quadruplexes in Human Telomeric‐Overhang DNA: A Protective Capping Structure for Telomere Ends

Abstract

The end of the line: Structural studies demonstrate the consecutive formation of G-quadruplexes in human single-stranded telomeric-overhang DNA. A higher-order DNA G-quadruplex structure was found to protect DNA double-strand ends from being recognized as double-strand breaks and to direct against nuclease hydrolysis, suggesting that the superhelix structure may provide protective “capping” for the telomere ends.