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Microplastics can alter structural configurations of human non-canonical G-quadruplex DNA

Environmental Toxicology and Pharmacology 2025 5 citations ? Citation count from OpenAlex, updated daily. May differ slightly from the publisher's own count. Score: 63 ? 0–100 AI score estimating relevance to the microplastics field. Papers below 30 are filtered from public browse.

Souvik Ghosal, Souvik Ghosal, Sagar Bag, Sagar Bag, Souvik Ghosal, Souvik Ghosal, Souvik Ghosal, Souvik Ghosal, Sagar Bag, Sagar Bag, Sagar Bag, Sagar Bag, Sagar Bag, Sagar Bag, Sagar Bag, Souvik Ghosal, Souvik Ghosal, Souvik Ghosal, Sudipta Bhowmik Sudipta Bhowmik Sudipta Bhowmik Sudipta Bhowmik Sudipta Bhowmik Sudipta Bhowmik Sudipta Bhowmik Sudipta Bhowmik Sudipta Bhowmik

Summary

Researchers discovered that polystyrene microplastics can bind directly to G-quadruplex DNA structures, which are important regulatory elements in human genes involved in cell growth and cancer. The microplastics altered the shape of these DNA structures, which could potentially interfere with normal gene regulation. This is one of the first studies showing microplastics can interact with DNA at the molecular level, raising concerns about how plastic particles inside the body might affect cellular processes.

Polymers

PE PS

Body Systems

Immune

Microplastics (MP) with a diameter of less than 150 μm can enter the lymph and bloodstream systems, induce cellular toxicity and damage DNA. G-quadruplexes (GQs) are tetraplex DNA secondary structures found in the human genomes that play important roles in replication, transcription and genomic integrity. Comprehending the biological and molecular processes underlying the activities of MPs could aid in estimating potential hazards to humans. In this investigation, polystyrene microplastics (PS-MPs) and polyethylene microplastics (PE-MPs) have been selected because these two MPs are environmentally most prevalent and they are of different sizes. Several biophysical strategies were employed to identify that PS-MPs are the most potent MPs that bind to CMYC GQ DNA (present in the promoter of CMYC gene, important for cellular growth and proliferation) and may alter their structure. This study helps to understand the potential threat MPs possesses by interacting with key DNA structures.

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