#37 · Genomics

Sequence symmetry and mutations shape G-quadruplex conformation in DNA

The common thread is how DNA sequence symmetry relates to G-quadruplex formation. Two preprints approach this computationally. One filters DNA sequence space with Newtonian polynomials and strand-symmetry rules, reporting that G-rich mirror-symmetric sequences favor G-quadruplexes. The other introduces the mirror symmetry index (MSI) and nMSI descriptors, which quantify trinucleotide symmetry in G4 motifs and are validated against oncogenic G4s. The published study addresses the experimental side: single and double mutations in the MYC promoter G-quadruplex, profiled on a custom G4 DNA microarray, reveal its conformational landscape and nearby guanine compensation. What is new is the pairing of motif-level symmetry metrics with mutational conformational readouts. The items do not directly test whether MSI-type descriptors predict the mutant conformations.