Abstract
The G(4)C(2) hexanucleotide repeat expansion in the c9orf72 gene is a major genetic cause of familial amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD), with the formation of G-quadruplexes directly linked to the development of these diseases. Cations play a crucial role in the formation and structure of G-quadruplexes. In this study, we investigated the impact of biologically relevant potassium ions on G-quadruplex structures and utilized (15)N-labeled ammonium cations as a substitute for K(+) ions to gain further insights into cation binding and exchange dynamics. Through nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and molecular dynamics simulations, we demonstrate that the single d(G(4)C(2)) repeat, in the presence of (15)NH(4)(+) ions, adopts a tetramolecular G-quadruplex with an all-syn quartet at the 5'-end. The movement of (15)NH(4)(+) ions through the central channel of the G-quadruplex, as well as to the bulk solution, is governed by the vacant cation binding site, in addition to the all-syn quartet at the 5'-end. Furthermore, the addition of K(+) ions to G-quadruplexes folded in the presence of (15)NH(4)(+) ions induces stacking of G-quadruplexes via their 5'-end G-quartets, leading to the formation of stable higher-ordered species.