Biocompatible visible-light photoswitching of ligand binding mode indicates G-quadruplex DNA as a ta

Congrats to Michael, Javi and Susanta for their recent publication on the selective targeting of telomeric G4 DNA with a dithienylethene ligand. We demonstrate the robust visible-light mediated switching of the G4 ligand binding mode and G-tetrad structure in physiologically-relevant conditions. The toxicity of the ligand to cervical cancer cells is modulated by the photoisomeric state of the ligand, indicating for the first time the potential of G4 to serve as a target for photopharmacological strategies.