Novel allele-specific quantification methods reveal no effects of adult onset CAG repeats on HTT mRNA and protein levels.

Huntington's disease (HD) reflects dominant consequences of a CAG repeat expansion mutation in HTT. Expanded CAG repeat size is the primary determinant of age at onset and age at death in HD. Although HD pathogenesis is driven by the expanded CAG repeat, whether the mutation influences the expression levels of mRNA and protein from the disease allele is not clear due to the lack of sensitive allele-specific quantification methods and the presence of confounding factors.

Photoluminescent DNA binding and cytotoxic activity of a platinum(II) complex bearing a tetradentate β-diketiminate ligand.

A platinum(II) complex of a monoanionic, tetradentate β-diketiminate (BDI) ligand with pendant quinoline arms, BDI(QQ)H, is reported. The complex, [Pt(BDI(QQ))]Cl, is emissive in DMSO, but non-emissive in aqueous buffer. Upon binding DNA in buffer, however, a 150-fold turn-on in emission intensity occurs.