NEWS OF THE W EEK
CHEMICAL BIOLOGY: Work could lead to better understanding of mysterious folded RNA structure SING AN ESTABLISHED biotagging technique,
researchers have identified compounds that distinguish RNA from DNA versions of G-quadruplexes, folded nucleic acid structures. The approach could lead to a richer understanding of RNA G-quadruplexes, the biological role of which is mostly unknown. The biotagging method, in situ click chemistry, uses known ligands for a class of target compounds to fish for selective ligands for a specific member of that class. The known ligands and a library of candidate ligands are each derivatized with complementary reactive groups. If both types of ligand bind nearby sites on a biomolecule and orient correctly on the target, their complementary groups can react with one another. This combination can be detected via mass spectrometry, thus identifying a selective ligand from the library. Marco Di Antonio, Raphaël Rodriguez, and Shankar Balasubramanian of the University of Cambridge and coworkers used the approach to find that carboxy
CHEMISTRY WEEK EXCITEMENT BUILDS PUBLIC OUTREACH: ACS event begins Oct. 21 and will celebrate the growing nanotechnology enterprise
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ANOTECHNOLOGY WILL BE celebrated and
explored as part of this year’s National Chemistry Week, sponsored by the American Chemical Society and set to take place on Oct. 21–27. At venues large and small, the 187 ACS local sections nationwide, with support from the society’s headquarters, will each put their own spin on this year’s theme. Volunteers from the ACS local sections will also unite with businesses, schools, and individuals in their areas to communicate the importance of chemistry to everyday life. Educational activities will be held across the country at locations that include elementary schools, museums, and shopping malls. “Nano is becoming the next big thing,” says Lynn M. Hogue, chair of the ACS Committee on Community Activities (CCA), which coordinates NCW with the help of the ACS Office of Volunteer Support. “If we can get kids interested in the subject, some of them might be the
unknown, and the significance of its ability to fold into a G-quadruplex is a hot topic,” Balasubramanian says. The new small-molecule probe “may help us get closer to understanding the importance of TERRA in nature.” The finding “opens up brand new possibilities for G-quadruplex ligands to be used as very selective therapeutic agents able to play a regulatory role either at the transcriptional (DNA G-quadruplex) or translational (RNA G-quadruplex) level in a fully controllable manner,” comments G-quadruplex specialist David Monchaud of the University of Burgundy, in France. The work introduces “a new chapter in the development of biochemical probes and drugs that target DNA and RNA,” adds in situ click chemistry codeveloper M. G. Finn of Scripps Research Institute.—STU BORMAN
scientists of tomorrow that take nano even further.” This year marks the 25th anniversary of NCW, which was launched in 1987 as National Chemistry Day. To commemorate the anniversary, CCA held a symposium and reception during the fall ACS national meeting in Philadelphia. In Tennessee, the ACS government affairs committee has secured a Federal Congressional Record, which is equivalent to a resolution, honoring the 25th anniversary of NCW. ACS offices and divisions are also getting involved in the NCW celebration. For example, the ACS Office of Public Affairs has prepared videos and blogs on NCW, and the ACS Publications Division will feature content from several ACS journals centered on the topic of nanotechnology. The Nanoscale Informal Science Education Network (NISE Net) is partnering with ACS to offer resources and activity ideas for NCW. In addition, copies of the NCW publication, Celebrating Chemistry, are available online in English, Spanish, and Portuguese. And as in previous years, students in grades K–12 are invited to participate in an illustrated poetry contest. For more information about NCW, visit www.acs.org/ncw.— NE AL AB RAMS
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pyridostatin selectively recognizes TERRA, a key RNA-based G-quadruplex (Angew. Chem. Int. Ed., DOI: 10.1002/anie.201206281). TERRA is produced by transcription of telomeric DNA, which itself tends to form G-quadruplexes and is a potential anticancer drug target. “The function of TERRA in cells is largely A NG EW. C HE M. INT. E D.
RNA G-QUADRUPLEX TAGGED SELECTIVELY
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Researchers screened two alkyne-derivatized nucleic acid binders (ovals) plus a library of azide-derivatized potential selective binders (six nonovals) to find a ligand (green) that binds Gquadruplex RNA (gray) selectively.
Children around the U.S. will engage in handson activities during National Chemistry Week.
