G quadruplexes are genomewide targets of transcriptional helicases XPB and XPD

Abstract

G4 motifs are greatly enriched near promoters, suggesting that quadruplex structures may be targets of transcriptional regulation. Here we show, by ChIP-Seq analysis of human cells, that 40% of the binding sites of the transcription-associated helicases, XPB and XPD, overlap with G4 motifs. The highly significant overlap of XPB and XPD binding sites with G4 motifs cannot be explained by GC-richness or parameters of the genomewide analysis, but instead suggests that these proteins are recruited to quadruplex structures that form in genomic DNA (G4 DNA). Biochemical analysis demonstrates that XPD is a robust G4 DNA helicase, and XPB binds to G4 DNA. XPB and XPD are enriched near the transcription start site (TSS) at 20% of genes, especially highly transcribed genes. XPB and XPD enrichment at G4 motifs characterizes specific signaling pathways and regulatory pathways associated with specific cancers. These results identify new candidate pathways for therapies targeted to quadruplexes.