Cover Picture: Polypyridyl Complexes of Ruthenium(II): Stabilization of G‐quadruplex DNA and Inhibition of Telomerase Activity (ChemPlusChem 7/2012)

Abstract

The cover picture shows a RuII polypyridyl complex with 1,10-phenanthroline as an ancillary ligand, which can target the telomeric DNA sequence at the ends of chromosomes and stabilize the telomeric G-quadruplex through multiple interactions (mainly intercalating) with the G-tetrad by the 3′-terminal face, and thus exhibit considerable inhibitory activity for telomerase and cancer cells. In their Full Paper on page 551 ff, J. Liu and co-workers report on how the design of RuII complexes that target and stabilize the telomeric G-quadruplex is a rational and promising approach to interfere with telomerase activity in tumor cells and to act as potential anticancer agents.