Irene Gómez-Pinto

Irene Gómez-Pinto


Research Focus & Metrics

Academic Career Length

2Years (2025-Present)

(Calculated once Scilit publication data is synced: current year − year of first publication + 1)

Representative Publications

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30 August 2025 in Molecules
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
CPCristina Ugedo Pérez
Cristina Ugedo Pérez
AZArnau Dominguez Zoroa
Arnau Dominguez Zoroa
IGIrene Gómez-Pinto
Irene Gómez-Pinto
Ramon EritjaRamon Eritja
Ramon Eritja
Carlos GonzalezCarlos Gonzalez
Carlos Gonzalez
AAAnna Aviñó
Anna Aviñó
I-motifs are non-canonical, cytosine-rich DNA structures stabilized by hemiprotonated C•C+ base pairs, whose formation is highly pH-dependent. While certain chemical modifications can enhance i-motif stability, modifications at the sugar moiety often disrupt essential inter-strand contacts. In this study, we examine the structural and thermodynamic impact of incorporating 2′-fluoro-ribocytidine (2′F-riboC) into i-motif-forming sequences derived from d(TCCCCC). Using a combination of UV, 1H NMR, and 19F NMR spectroscopy, we demonstrate that full substitution with 2′F-riboC strongly destabilizes i-motif, whereas partial substitutions (one or two substitutions per strand) support well-folded structures at acidic pH (pH 5). High-resolution NMR structures reveal well-defined i-motif architectures with conserved C•C+ pairing and characteristic interstrand NOEs. Sugar conformational analysis reveals a predominant North pucker for cytosines, which directs the fluorine substituent toward the minor groove of the i-motif. 19F NMR further confirms slow exchange between folded and unfolded species, enabling the simultaneous detection of both under identical experimental conditions and, consequently, highlighting the utility of fluorine at the 2′ sugar position as a spectroscopic probe. These findings provide insights into fluorine-mediated modulation of i-motif stability and further extend the utility of 19F NMR in nucleic acid research.