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. 2022 Apr 20;14(3):635–654. doi: 10.1007/s12551-022-00952-8

Table 1.

G4-quadruplex binding proteins (G4BPs)

G4-sequence Function, if known Comments
Telomeric G4BPs
POT1 (TTAGGG)n Unfolding of G4 (and refolding with POT1-TPP1 complex Selective to anti-parallel G4Qs
RPA (TTAGGG)n Unfolds G4Qs Unfolds both parallel and anti-parallel G4Qs
Human CST TTAGGG.AATCCC Unfolds G4Qs Complex of 3 proteins; CTC1 contains the DNA-binding site
hnRNP A1 and UP1 (TTAGGG)n Unfolds G4Qs

Specifically, nYAGn seq

Binds RNA and DNA

BLM (TTAGGG)n Unfolds G4Qs (leading strand) in 3′-5′

Needs a ssDNA spacer between G4Q and the replication fork to function

Similar to WRN

WRN (TTAGGG)n Unfolds G4Qs (lagging strand) in 3′-5′ Similar to BLM
BRCA1 (TTAGGG)n Binds G4Qs in vitro
Pif1 (TTAGGG)n Unfolds 5′-3′ direction
Replication G4BPs
FANCJ Unfolds G4Qs in 5′-3′ direction unwinds both intramolecular and intermolecular G4Qs
Promoter G4BPs
Sp1

G4 (C) G3 (CC) G5 (C) G4 (TCCCGGC) G4 (CGG) (VEGF)

CCCGGGCGGGCGCGAGGGAGGGGAGG (c-KIT)

CGGGGCGGGGCGGGGGCGGGGGCG (HRAS)

Binds parallel and antiparallel G4Qs
DHX36 Many sequences Unfolds G4Qs in 3′-5′ Strong preference for binding parallel DNA and RNA G4Qs over antiparallel; requires trailing 3′ end
Nucleolin

TGGGGAGGGTGGGGAGGGTGGGGAAGG (c-MYC)

(GGGGCC)n (HRE)

Stabilizes G4Q to suppress transcription Preferentially binds parallel G4Qs but can bind both
NM23-H2 TGGGGAGGGTGGGGAGGGTGGGGAAGG (c-MYC) Unfolds G4Q to enable transcription
MAZ

TGGGGAGGGTGGGGAGGGTGGGGAAGG (c-MYC)

ACAGGGGTGTGGGG (Pur-1)

TCGGGTTGCGGGCGCAGGGCACGGGCG and CGGGGCGGGGCGGGGGCGGGGGCG (HRAS)

GGGAGGGAGGGAAGGAGGGAGGGAGGGA (KRAS)

Unfolds G4Qs to enable transcription
PARP1

C3G3CG3CGCGAG3AG4AG2 (c-KIT)

TGGGGAGGGTGGGGAGGGTGGGGAAGG (c-MYC)

GGGAGGGAGGGAAGGAGGGAGGGAGGGA (KRAS)

Recognizes parallel G4Qs; binding with c-KIT activates PARP1
XPD/XPB XPD: 5′-3′ direction XPB: 3′-5′ direction
hnRNP

GGGAGGGAGGGAAGGAGGGAGGGAGGGA (KRAS)

GGGGTGGGGCCCTGCGAGGGCGGG (TRA2β)

Unfolds G4Q
RNA G4BPs
hnRNP A1

AACGAGGGAGGGAGGGAGAGGGAGAGA- (MMP16)

AGCCGGGGGCUGGGCGGGGACCG GGCUUGU (ARPC2)

Unfolds G4Q
DHX36 Many sequences
DHX9 Many sequences Unfolds G4Qs in 3′-5′ Preference for RNA substrates; requires a 3′ single-stranded tail for initial binding
FMRP GUGUGGAAGGAGUGGCUGGGUUG(sc1) Stabilizes the G4Q