G4specific
G4specific is a term used in molecular biology to describe agents, probes, or methods that preferentially recognize or interact with G-quadruplex (G4) structures in nucleic acids. G4 structures are four-stranded configurations formed by guanine-rich sequences and are implicated in regulation of transcription, replication, and genome stability. The descriptor is commonly applied to ligands, aptamers, or proteins that show higher affinity or selectivity for G4 configurations over canonical duplex DNA, and may reflect preference for particular G4 topologies such as parallel or antiparallel forms.
In mechanism and scope, G4specific interactions can involve end-stacking, groove-binding, or electrostatic contacts that stabilize the
Applications and methods span biochemical characterization, cellular imaging, and compound screening. Common experimental approaches to assess