Human MYC G-quadruplex: From discovery to a cancer therapeutic target.

Overexpression of the MYC oncogene is a molecular hallmark of both cancer initiation and progression. Targeting MYC is a logical and effective cancer therapeutic strategy. A special DNA secondary structure, the G-quadruplex (G4), is formed within the nuclease hypersensitivity element III (NHE III) region, located upstream of the MYC gene's P1 promoter that drives the majority of its transcription.

Non-Transition-Metal Catalytic System for N Reduction to NH: A Density Functional Theory Study of Al-Doped Graphene.

The prevalent catalysts for natural and artificial N fixation are known to hinge upon transition-metal (TM) elements. Herein, we demonstrate by density functional theory that Al-doped graphene is a potential non-TM catalyst to convert N to NH in the presence of relatively mild proton/electron sources. In the integrated structure of the catalyst, the Al atom serves as a binding site and catalytic center while the graphene framework serves as an electron buffer during the successive proton/electron additions to N and its various downstream NH intermediates.