Pipier Angélique, Monchaud David
Institut de Chimie Moléculaire de l'Université de Bourgogne (ICMUB), CNRS UMR6302, Dijon, France.
Bio Protoc. 2025 Feb 5;15(3):e5209. doi: 10.21769/BioProtoc.5209.
The existence and functional relevance of DNA and RNA G-quadruplexes (G4s) in human cells is now beyond debate, but how did we reach such a level of confidence? Thanks to a panoply of molecular tools and techniques that are now routinely implemented in wet labs. Among them, G4 imaging ranks high because of its reliability and practical convenience, which now makes cellular G4 detection quick and easy; also, because this technique is sensitive and responsive to any G4 modulations in cells, which thus allows gaining precious insights into G4 biology. Herein, we briefly explain what a G4 is and how they can be visualized in human cells; then, we present the strategy we have been developing for several years now for in situ click G4 imaging, which relies on the use of biomimetic G4 ligands referred to as TASQs (for template-assembled synthetic G-quartets) and is far more straightforward and modular than classically used immunodetection methods. We thus show why and how to illuminate G4s with TASQs and provide a detailed, step-by-step methodology (including the preparation of the materials, the methodology per se, and a series of notes to address any possible pitfalls that may arise during the experiments) to make G4 imaging ever easier to operate. Key features • MultiTASQs are clickable probes usable for the detection of cellular DNA and RNA G-quadruplex (G4). • In situ click chemistry relies on the labeling of G4 by clickable probes once in their cellular binding sites. • Experiments can be performed by incubating the clickable probe either in live cells or in fixed cells. • The published but unoptimized protocol is now totally revised to allow for reliable G4 detection in human cells.
DNA和RNA G-四链体(G4s)在人类细胞中的存在及其功能相关性现已毋庸置疑,但我们是如何达到如此确信程度的呢?这得益于众多目前在湿实验室中常规使用的分子工具和技术。其中,G4成像因其可靠性和实际便利性而名列前茅,这使得细胞G4检测变得快速且容易;此外,由于该技术对细胞中的任何G4调制敏感且有响应,从而能够深入了解G4生物学。在此,我们简要解释什么是G4以及它们如何在人类细胞中可视化;然后,我们介绍我们多年来一直在开发的用于原位点击G4成像的策略,该策略依赖于使用被称为TASQs(模板组装合成G-四联体)的仿生G4配体,并且比传统使用的免疫检测方法更加直接和模块化。因此,我们展示了为什么以及如何用TASQs照亮G4,并提供详细的、逐步的方法(包括材料制备、方法本身以及一系列注意事项,以解决实验过程中可能出现的任何潜在问题),以使G4成像操作起来更加容易。关键特性 • MultiTASQs是可点击的探针,可用于检测细胞DNA和RNA G-四链体(G4)。 • 原位点击化学依赖于可点击探针一旦在其细胞结合位点对G4进行标记。 • 实验可以通过在活细胞或固定细胞中孵育可点击探针来进行。 • 已发表但未优化的方案现已全面修订,以实现对人类细胞中G4的可靠检测。