Research

Scientists from the Rocasolano Institute of Physical Chemistry and McGill University in Montreal have just published a review on this fascinanting DNA structure in Nucleic Acids Research

The i-motif represents a paradigmatic example of the wide structural versatility of nucleic acids. In remarkable contrast to duplex DNA, i-motifs are four-stranded DNA structures held together by hemi- protonated and intercalated cytosine base pairs (C:C+). First observed 25 years ago, and considered by many as a mere structural oddity, interest in and discussion on the biological role of i-motifs have grown dramatically in recent years. 

In this review published in Nucleic Acids Research, scientist from the Rocasolano Institute of Physical Chemistry and McGill University in Montreal focus on structural aspects of i-motif formation, the factors leading to its stabilization and recent studies describing the possible role of i-motifs in fundamental biological processes.

Reference: H. Abou-Assi, M. Garavís, C. González,* and M. J. Damha*. i-Motif DNA – Structural Features and Significance to Cell Biology. Nucleic Acids Res., 46(16), 8038-8056, 2018. doi:10.1093/nar/gky735