Direct visualization and functional characterization of Gar2 Nucleolin-G-quadruplex interactions

Abstract

We demonstrate that Gar2^Nucleolin, a conserved nucleolar protein required for ribosome biogenesis in Schizosaccharomyces pombe, interacts with both DNA and RNA G-quadruplexes (G4s), and destabilize DNA G4 structures. Using biochemical assays and, G4-immuno-electron microscopy, we directly visualize Gar2’s interaction with G4s at high resolution. Our findings establish Gar2 as a novel regulator of G4 dynamics, expanding the role of nucleolar proteins in shaping genome architecture.