Springer Development of Selective DNA-Interacting Ligands: Understanding the Function of Non-canonical DNA Structures (Springer Theses)

This book addresses the development of both DNA-sequence-selective and DNA-form-selective ligands, with the aim of creating potential molecular probes and therapeutic agents for non-canonical DNA structure-caused human diseases.   Over the past two decades, the structural diversity of DNA forms has been proven to have profound implications in various biological, neurological, and pharmacological events. In response, researchers have since made tremendous efforts to obtain highly active drugs interacting with disease-related non-canonical DNA structures. These drugs, however, have not yet been approved for clinical use. One obstacle impeding their clinical application has to do with selectivity.    This book focuses on secondary DNA structures formed by trinucleotide repeat sequences (“hairpin form”) or guanine-rich sequences (“G-quadruplex form”), both of which are pathological molecules for neurodegenerative diseases and/or cancer. Most importantly, it contends that a particular secondary structure of DNA in the context of the human genome can be targeted with a minimal affinity to other DNA structures by means ofcareful and rational ligand design. This approach opens an avenue to the development of highly selective drugs or diagnostic chemical tools for human diseases. Readers who want to know how synthetic ligands can be designed to selectively target a certain DNA molecule will find this book highly informative.    From the Back Cover This book addresses the development of both DNA-sequence-selective and DNA-form-selective ligands, with the aim of creating potential molecular probes and therapeutic agents for non-canonical DNA structure-caused human diseases.   Over the past two decades, the structural diversity of DNA forms has been proven to have profound implications in various biological, neurological, and pharmacological events. In response, researchers have since made tremendous efforts to obtain highly active drugs interacting with disease-related non-canonical DNA structures. These drugs, however, have not yet been approved for clinical use. One obstacle impeding their clinical application has to do with selectivity.    This book focuses on secondary DNA structures formed by trinucleotide repeat sequences (“hairpin form”) or guanine-rich sequences (“G-quadruplex form”), both of which are pathological molecules for neurodegenerative diseases and/or cancer. Most importantly, it contends that a particular secondary structure of DNA in the context of the human genome can be targeted with a minimal affinity to other DNA structures by means ofcareful and rational ligand design. This approach opens an avenue to the development of highly selective drugs or diagnostic chemical tools for human diseases. Readers who want to know how synthetic ligands can be designed to selectively target a certain DNA molecule will find this book highly informative.    About the Author Sefan Asamitsu obtained his B.Sc. degree from Kyoto University in 2014. He also obtained his M.Sc. degree in 2016 and his Ph.D. degree in 2019 from the Department of Chemistry at Kyoto University in the group led by Prof. Hiroshi Sugiyama. His Ph.D. thesis focuses on the development of highly selective and bioactive DNA-interactive ligands with the aim of creating potential molecular probes and therapeutic agents.