PhpC 

PhpC is a G-quadruplex (G4)-DNA/RNA disruptor. PhpC disrupts DNA and RNA G4 structures and promotes G4 helicase activity. PhpC effectively enhancing the activity of Taq polymerase. PhpC modulates G-quadruplexs (G4s) both in vitro and in cells^[1][2][3].

PhpC enhances the reverse transcription of RNA containing rMYC G4 while exerting a significant inhibitory effect on the reverse transcription of rhTELO, r5YEY, and rTBA^[3].
PhpC promotes the in vitro translation of G4-containing RNA^[3].
PhpC inhibits the cell viability of HEK293FT cells, with an IC₅₀ value of 25.7 μM^[3].
PhpC (5-20 μM; 24 h) induces an increase in the DNA damage marker γH2AX, indicating that it can induce DNA damage^[3].
PhpC (25-100 μM; 24 h) leads to a gradual increase in the transcript level of mature miR-3196 in A549 cells^[4].
PhpC can recognize and bind to the regions forming G4s (rG4)-3196 sequence, disrupting its native G4 conformation and leading to a structural transition^[4].
In HeLa cells, the immunofluorescence (IF) analyses demonstrats that 100 µM PhpC reduces G4 levels significantly while it has no effect on the metabolic activity^[5].
PhpC (90 µM, 48 h) significantly decreases the abundance of NRAS G4 in MCF7 cells^[6].
PhpC (90 μM; 72 h) shows no significant effects against LINC01589 and MELTF-AS1, while PhpC triggers a significant decrease against UXT-AS1 and NRAS in HT-29 cells^[7].
PhpC modulates the G4 landscapes in a focused manner, altering only the translational activity in astrocytes with the upregulation of 295 proteins mostly involved in RNA transactions^[8].

MedChemExpress (MCE) has not independently confirmed the accuracy of these methods. They are for reference only.

356.38

C₁₈H₂₀N₄O₄

Solid

Light yellow to yellow

NCCOC1=CC=CC(C2=CC3=CN(C(N=C3N2)=O)CC(OCC)=O)=C1

Room temperature in continental US; may vary elsewhere.

4°C, sealed storage, away from moisture and light

*In solvent : -80°C, 6 months; -20°C, 1 month (sealed storage, away from moisture and light)

• [1]. Mitteaux, J. et al. Identifying G-Quadruplex-DNA-Disrupting Small Molecules. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 143, 12567-12577 (2021).  [Content Brief]

  [2]. Liu X, et al. Unveiling a Potent Small Molecule Disruptor for RNA G-Quadruplexes Tougher Than DNA G-Quadruplex Disruption. ACS Chem Biol. 2024 Sep 20;19(9):2032-2040.  [Content Brief]

  [3]. Teng X, et al. Discovery of A G-Quadruplex Unwinder That Unleashes the Translation of G-Quadruplex-Containing mRNA without Inducing DNA Damage. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl. 2024 Sep 16;63(38):e202407353.  [Content Brief]

  [4]. Alexandre D, et al. Cellular modulation of a G-quadruplex structure found in the lung cancer-related microRNA-3196. Int J Biol Macromol. 2025 Jul;318(Pt 4):145263.  [Content Brief]

  [5]. De Magis, A. et al. UV-induced G4 DNA structures recruit ZRF1 which prevents UV-induced senescence. Nat. Commun. 14, 6705 (2023).   [Content Brief]

  [6]. Mitteaux J, et al. PhpC modulates G-quadruplex-RNA landscapes in human cells. Chem Commun (Camb). 2024 Jan 4;60(4):424-427.  [Content Brief]

  [7]. Sharma S, et al. Pharmacomodulation of G-quadruplexes in long non-coding RNAs dysregulated in colorectal cancer. BMC Biol. 2025 Aug 8;23(1):249.  [Content Brief]

  [8]. M J VK, et al. Small molecule-based regulation of gene expression in human astrocytes switching on and off the G-quadruplex control systems. J Biol Chem. 2025 Jan;301(1):108040.  [Content Brief]