The previously mentioned G-analogshave also potential applications in medicinal chemistry as potential inhibitors of telomerase, an enzyme active in many types of cancers. In order to exploit this application we need to accomplish the following: (i) increase the water solubility of the G-analogs; (ii) study the self-assembly in aqueous media; (iii) test the resulting G-analogs against telomerase activity. The first point will be accomplished by the derivatization of the G-analogs at the sugar ring with a variety of water-solubilizing groups like polyethyleneglycols (PEGs), amines, and others. Upon accomplishing the first point, we will study the self-assembly in aqueous media and will submit the compounds to testing against telomerase activity. The latter will be done through a collaboration with Prof. S. Kondo at the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, TX.
