Nanostructural Modulation of G-Quadruplex DNA in Neurodegeneration: Orotate Interaction Revealed Through Experimental and Computational Approaches.

The natural compound orotic acid and its anionic form, orotate, play a pivotal role in various biological processes, serving as essential intermediates in pyrimidine de novo synthesis, with demonstrated connections to dietary, supplement, and neurodrug applications. A novel perspective on biomolecular aggregation at the nanoscale, particularly pertinent to neurodegeneration, challenges the established paradigm positing that peptide (amyloid beta) and protein (tau) aggregation mainly govern the molecular events underlying prevalent neuropathologies. Emerging biological evidence indicates a notable role for G-quadruplex (G4) DNA aggregation in neurodegenerative processes affecting neuronal cells, particularly in the presence of extended (GC) repeats in nuclear DNA sequences. Our study concerns d[(GGGGCC)GGGG], a G4-forming DNA model featuring GC repeats that is in correlation with neurodegeneration. Through different investigations utilizing spectroscopic techniques (CD, UV, and thermal denaturations), PAGE electrophoresis, and molecular docking, the study explores the influence of orotate on the aggregation of this neurodegeneration-associated DNA. A computational approach was employed to construct an in silico model of the DNA aggregate, which involved the docking of multiple G4 units and subsequent integration of the ligand into both the DNA monomer and its in silico aggregated model. The convergence of computational analyses and empirical data collectively supports the hypothesis that orotate possesses the capability to modulate the aggregation of neurodegeneration-related DNA. Notably, the findings suggest the potential utility of orotate as a neurodrug, especially for the therapy of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and Frontotemporal Dementia (FTD), with its current status as a dietary supplement indicating minimal safety concerns. Additionally, orotate demonstrated a slight increase in mitochondrial dehydrogenase activity as assessed by the MTT assay, which is beneficial for a neurodrug as it suggests a potential role in enhancing mitochondrial function and supporting neuronal health.

© 2025 The Author(s). Journal of Neurochemistry published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of International Society for Neurochemistry.