Kinetics of double-chain reversals bridging contiguous quartets in tetramolecular quadruplexes

Repetitive 5′GGXGG DNA segments abound in, or near, regulatory regions of the genome and may form unusual structures called G-quadruplexes. Using NMR spectroscopy, we demonstrate that a family of 5′GCGGXGGY sequences adopts a folding topology containing double-chain reversals. The topology is composed of two bistranded quadruplex monomeric units linked by formation of G:C:G:C tetrads. We provide a complete thermodynamic and kinetic analysis of 13 different sequences using absorbance spectroscopy and DSC, and compare their kinetics with a canonical tetrameric parallel-stranded quadruplex formed by TG(4)T. We demonstrate large differences (up to 10(5)-fold) in the association constants of these quadruplexes depending on primary sequence; the fastest samples exhibiting association rate equal or higher than the canonical TG(4)T quadruplex. In contrast, all sequences studied here unfold at a lower temperature than this quadruplex. Some sequences have thermodynamic stability comparable to the canonical TG(4)T tetramolecular quadruplex, but with faster association and dissociation. Sequence effects on the dissociation processes are discussed in light of structural data.