Targeting of Nucleic Acids and Photolabelling approaches

The main task of our team focuses on the design and synthesis of small-synthetic molecules, used both as ligands and probes, capable of recognizing non-canonical nucleic acid secondary structures formed by DNA and RNA G-rich sequences called G-quadruplexes (G4s). We postulate that the ability of these compounds to bind and stabilize G4s may affect G4 biological functions and their recognition by binding partners (e.g. enzymes, transcription factors), thereby clarifying their role in the development of diseases such as cancer. To achieve this goal the team exploits its comprehensive expertise in chemical biology of nucleic acids and photochemistry supported by a strong background in molecular recognition, biophysics, biochemistry, and cell-based assays.