An Upstream G-Quadruplex DNA Structure Can Stimulate Gene Transcription

Four-stranded G-quadruplexes (G4s) are prevalent secondary structural features of the human genome. They are formed through stacking of Hoogsteen hydrogen-bonded G-tetrads connected by loops of variable length and sequence. G4 structures are found widely in genome control elements including gene promoters and are tightly linked to active gene expression and the recruitment of transcription factors and chromatin remodellers. To systematically investigate how G4 structures modulate transcription, we have developed a strategy in which different G4 sequences are engineered into the promoter of a synthetic reporter gene and ectopically into the same endogenous position in the genome of human cells. Here, we show that G4 sequences introduced into the host genome can fold into an G4 structure. Crucially, we demonstrate that G4 formation within a gene promoter stimulates transcription compared to G4-negative promoters and that this is not due to inherent G-richness. Finally, we provide robust evidence that transcriptional levels are directly related to the degree of thermodynamic stability of the G4 structure. Taken together, our results provide compelling evidence that G4 structures have a direct and positive regulatory role in gene transcription. Overall design: DNA G-quadruplexes (G4-ChIP-seq) has been profiled in HEK293 cells (human embryonic kidney cells). 3 biological replicates have been performed, and each of those have been assessed by 3 technical replicates and 1 input library.