Abstract Fifteen complexes of palladium, platinum, and copper, featuring five different N- donor tridentate (terpyridine-like) ligands, were prepared with the aim of testing their G- quadruplex–DNA binding properties. The fluorescence resonance energy transfer melting assay indicated a striking positive effect of palladium on G-quadruplex DNA stabilization compared with platinum and copper, as well as an influence of the structure of the organic ...