Insights into computer-aided G-quadruplex prediction in the digital age

Abstract

G-quadruplexes are four-stranded non-canonical secondary structures formed by G-rich DNA and RNA sequences. They are structurally diverse and found to regulate several biological processes including DNA replication, gene transcription, and translation. The diverse role of these structures is associated with several diseases such as cancer, aging, and neurological disorders. In addition, they have emerged as a potential therapeutic target specifically in the context of drug discovery of cancer disease. Because of its significant implications in cellular biology, scientists have given excessive efforts to locate G4 regions at the genomic level through experimental sequencing procedures as well as computational methods over the last few years. The prediction of active G4 regions as well as their stability by computational methods has facilitated the drug discovery processes. In this brief report, the technological advancement in computer-aided G-quadruplex prediction has been highlighted.