Quadruplex detection in human cells

TL;DR

This paper reviews methods developed over recent years for detecting DNA and RNA quadruplexes in human cells, highlighting advances in visualization techniques like immunodetection and fluorescent probes.

Contribution

It provides a comprehensive overview of strategies for visualizing quadruplexes in cells, emphasizing recent developments in specific fluorescent probes.

Findings

Multiple detection strategies have been developed.

Fluorescent turn-on probes enable specific quadruplex visualization.

Immunodetection methods complement chemical probes.

Abstract

DNA and RNA quadruplexes are extensively studied for the key roles they are suspected to play in the cellular regulation networks at both genomic and transcriptomic levels. The reliable detection of quadruplexes in cells was and remains a challenging task. Here, we describe the various strategies that have been implemented over the past years to visualize functionally relevant DNA and RNA quadruplexes in human cells, from immunodetection studies to the design and use of quadruplex-specific turn-on fluorescent probes.