Date of Award
Winter 3-21-2026
Document Type
Undergraduate Thesis
Degree Name
B.S. in Chemistry and Biochemistry
Organizational Unit
College of Natural Science and Mathematics, Chemistry and Biochemistry
First Advisor
Scott Horowitz
Copyright Statement / License for Reuse
All Rights Reserved.
Keywords
Biochemistry, G-quadruplex, G-quadruplexes, Neurodegenerative Disease, Fluorescence, Fluorescence Polarization
Abstract
Not only do g-quadruplexes represent a major source of pathologies for both neuro degenerative diseases and cancer, they are a major player in many physiological processes. Detection and binding of these quadruplexes has the potential for therapeutic effect or elucidation of biological processes and thus demands investigation. In this thesis, I present two studies; one investigates a library of foldamer ligands for their potential to bind to quadruplexes. The other investigates the ability of a novel PROTAC to bind to quadruplexes in hopes of pursuing the PROTAC as a lead therapeutic. Both studies make use of fluorescent methods as their primary mode of investigation. Through these studies, we reveal the inadequacies of these methods and the areas of optimization they have provided.
Copyright Date
3-1-2026
Publication Statement
Copyright is held by the author. User is responsible for all copyright compliance.
Rights Holder
Joshua Roberts
Provenance
Received from Author
File Format
application/pdf
Language
English (eng)
Extent
36 pgs
File Size
2.41 MB
Recommended Citation
Roberts, Joshua, "G-Quadruplex Binders and Their Potential As Lead Therapeutics in Neurodegenerative Disease" (2026). Undergraduate Theses, Capstones, and Recitals. 74.
https://digitalcommons.du.edu/undergraduate_theses/74