G-Quadruplex-Protein Interactions: Screening, Characterization and Regulation

G-quadruplex (G4) is a kind of peculiar nucleic acid secondary structure formed by DNA or RNA, which is considered as a fundamental feature of the genome. Many proteins can specifically bind to G4 structures. There is increasing evidence that G4-protein interactions involve in the regulation of important cellular processes such as DNA replication, transcription, RNA splicing and translation. Besides, G4-protein interactions have been proved to be potential targets for disease treatment. In order to unravel the detailed bioregulatory mechanisms of G4-binding proteins (G4BPs), biochemical methods for detecting G4-protein interactions with high specificity and sensitivity are highly demanded. Here, we review recent advances in the screening and validation of new G4BPs and bioregulatory tools of G4BPs.