One of the most well-researched forms of noncanonical DNA are G-quadruplexes, an important regulator of genome stability, transcription, and translation. Recent bioinformatic analyses of the human genome have discovered oligonucleotide sequences with the potential to form five and six stacked G-quadruplexes that have not been observed yet. We investigated oligonucleotide topologies through means of magnetic resonance spectroscopy and polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The topology of oligonucleotides with five and six G-tracts was studied with gradual G-tract and loop elongation of a well-characterised oligonucleotide sequence T(G3T)4. The folding patterns were investigated with increasing concentration of potassium cations, after annealing, quenching, and two-week-long incubation at 4 °C. Most samples displayed characteristics of structural polymorphism. Oligonucleotides with G-tract length of three, four and five nucleotides formed predominantly one structure, which allowed us to determine two parallel and one hybrid (3+1) topology, respectively. We also confirmed the existence of six stacked G-quadruplex in a form of a parallel tetrameric complex. The discovery of structures that preferentially form under analysed conditions facilitates further research into five or six stacked G-quadruplexes. Studies may continue with the examination of a variety of loop types, as such G-quadruplexes may prove to be an important therapeutical target in the future.
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