Stapling a G-quadruplex specific peptide.

G-quadruplex (G4) is a non-canonical four-stranded nucleic acid structure and the RHAU helicase has been identified to have high specificity for recognition of parallel-stranded G4s. We have designed and synthesized two stapled peptide analogues of the G4-specfic motif of RHAU, which preserve the G4 binding ability. Characterization of these peptides identified the stapled variants to exhibit higher helical formation propensity in aqueous buffer in comparison to the native RHAU sequence.