基于分子信标实时监测大肠杆菌DNA连接酶催化的DNA连接过程

报道了一种对DNA连接过程进行实时监测的方法,利用分子信标核酸探针作为DNA连接反应的模板和检测探针,实时监测了 E.coli DNA连接酶催化的DNA连接反应,克服了传统的凝胶电泳技术操作复杂、周期长及无法实时监测DNA连接过程的缺点,为核酸连接过程的实时监测和连接酶催化机理的研究提供了更为丰富的信息.在此基础上,发展了一种快速、准确测定 E.coli DNA连接酶的方法,线性响应范围为4.0×10^-6～2.0×10^-4U/μL,检测下限为4.0×10^-6U/μL.     

基于线性荧光探针对T4 DNA连接酶的活性分析

利用线性荧光探针作为核酸连接反应的模板和信号分子, 通过实时监测荧光信号的降低来表征连接产物的生成过程, 从而建立了一种连续、简单且特异性高的T4 DNA连接酶活性分析的新方法, 检出限可达1.2 U/mL; 同时, 该方法还可用于快速考察金属离子和化学药物对酶促反应的影响. 实验结果表明, 该法不仅为灵敏、实时监测核酸连接反应提供了一种简便快捷的非同位素分析方法, 也为开展核酸连接酶活性分析、反应动力学机制探讨和药物快速筛选提供了一种新技术.     

基于锁核酸的高选择性新型分子信标

通过在分子信标的错配位点修饰锁核酸, 不仅可有效地改善其单碱基错配识别能力, 还可提高检测灵敏度. 因而有望发展成为一种通用的提高分子信标单碱基错配识别能力的方法.     

分子信标用于核酸及核酸酶检测体系的假阳性问题

近年来,利用分子信标(Molecular Beacons,MB)检测DNA及核酸酶活性的报道不断增加,MB独特的茎环形结构为在均相溶液中实现杂交和检测的实时进行提供了有力的手段~([1]).     

锁核酸分子信标在分子识别与生物分析中的应用

分子信标是一种荧光探针,闭合时呈发夹结构。其5'末端修饰荧光基团,3'末端修饰猝灭基团。当目标存在时,环部与目标结合,发夹打开,发出荧光。锁核酸是一类双环状寡核苷酸衍生物,能够遵循碱基互补配对原则与核酸结合。锁核酸分子信标技术,结合了分子信标无需分离未结合探针而直接检测的优势和锁核酸亲合力强、热稳定性好、抗酶切以及体内无毒等特点,在核酸检测方面具有灵敏度高、特异性好的独特优势,近年来得到广泛关注。本文介绍了锁核酸修饰分子信标的结构、功能、设计要点,及其研究现状和一些重要进展,并讨论了目前锁核酸分子信标在分子识别及生物分析中的应用及存在的问题和发展前景。     

一种新型荧光探针--分子信标的研究及应用进展

分子信标是一种基于荧光能量转移原理而设计的发夹型寡聚核酸荧光探针。它通过与核酸等靶分子相互作用后发生构象的变化而产生荧光信号,对靶分子的检测具有灵敏度高、选择性强、适合于活体实时检测等优点。目前已广泛应用于生物化学分析、生物医学研究和环境监测等各领域。本文对分子信标的设计原理及其研究和应用进展进行了综述。     

分子信标荧光探针用于抑癌基因ING1表达产物的定量测定

根据抑癌基因ING1基因的序列设计并合成了检测ING1转录产物的分子信标核酸探针,发展了一种快速测量从正常细胞系和鼻咽癌肿瘤细胞系提取的ING1转录产物的方法,所得结果与用逆转录结合PCR法(RT-PCR)得到的结果相吻合.并且,将能表达ING1基因的质粒转入肿瘤细胞进行培养后,再将分子信标转入肿瘤细胞,发现转导了质粒的肿瘤细胞比未转导质粒的肿瘤细胞内的荧光明显增强,从而进一步证实了所设计的分子信标核酸探针与ING1转录产物的结合.     

基于核酸适体与分子信标的水胺硫磷和丙溴磷检测

根据靶分子与分子信标竞争结合核酸适体的原理,建立了基于核酸适体与分子信标的水胺硫磷和丙溴磷检测方法,优化了检测条件,并对建立的检测方法进行了评价。优化的检测条件为农药与适体ssDNA-35先孵育20min,然后按分子信标与适体ssDNA-351:1的比例加入分子信标MB1,25℃条件下孵育60min。在最佳条件下,抑制率与水胺硫磷在50~250μmol/L浓度范围内呈线性关系,检出限为25.138μmol/L,RSD为2.9%;抑制率与丙溴磷在150~500μmol/L浓度范围内呈线性关系,检出限为79.963μmol/L,RSD为6.3%。用于实际水样中两种农药的检测,加标回收率为77.9%~103.3%。     

分子信标的构建及其应用研究进展

分子信标（molecular beacon,MB）是一种寡聚核苷酸荧光探针,其具有灵敏度高、特异性强、操作简单以及不必与未反应的探针分离即可实时检测等优点,在分子生物学和基因组学及分子医学等领域具有十分重要的应用价值。 本文介绍了近年来出现的各种新型分子信标的结构及工作原理,概述了分子信标技术在生命科学领域中的应用,展望了分子信标技术的发展趋势。     

分子信标的构建及其应用研究进展

分子信标(molecular beacon,MB)是一种寡聚核苷酸荧光探针,其具有灵敏度高、特异性强、操作简单以及不必与未反应的探针分离即可实时检测等优点,在分子生物学和基因组学及分子医学等领域具有十分重要的应用价值。本文介绍了近年来出现的各种新型分子信标的结构及工作原理,概述了分子信标技术在生命科学领域中的应用,展望了分子信标技术的发展趋势。     

Ultrasensitive electrochemical biosensor for specific detection of DNA based on molecular beacon mediated circular strand displacement polymerization and hyperbranched rolling circle amplification

Using a cascade signal amplification strategy, an ultrasensitive electrochemical biosensor for specific detection of DNA based on molecular beacon (MB) mediated circular strand displacement polymerization (CSDP) and hyperbranched rolling circle amplification (HRCA) was proposed. The hybridization of MB probe to target DNA resulted in a conformational change of the MB and triggered the CSDP in the presence of bio-primer and Klenow fragment (KF exo⁻), leading to multiple biotin-tagged DNA duplex. Furthermore, the HRCA was implemented to product amounts of double-stranded DNA (ds-DNA) fragments using phi29 DNA polymerase via biotin-streptavidin interaction. After the product of HRCA binded numerous biotinylated detection probes, an ultrasensitive electrochemical readout by further employing the streptavidin-alkaline phosphatase. The proposed biosensor exhibited excellent detection sensitivity and specificity with a log-linear response to target DNA from 0.01 fM to 10 pM as low as 8.9 aM. The proposed method allowed DNA detection with simplicity, rapidness, low cost and high specificity, which might have the potential for application in clinical molecular diagnostics and environmental monitoring.     

Real-time monitoring of double-stranded DNA cleavage using molecular beacons

Traditional methods to assay enzymatic cleavage of DNA are discontinuous, time-consuming and laborious. Here, we report a new approach for real-time monitoring of double-stranded DNA cleavage by restriction endonuclease based on nucleic acid ligation using molecular beacon. Upon cleavage of DNA, the cleavage product can be ligated by DNA ligase, which results in a fluorescence enhancement of the molecular beacon. This method permits real-time monitoring of DNA cleavage and makes it easy to characterize the activity of restriction endonuclease and to study the cleavage reaction kinetics.     

Rapid DNA hybridization analysis using a PDMS microfluidic sensor and a molecular beacon.

A rapid DNA analysis has been developed based on a fluorescence intensity change of a molecular beacon in a PDMS microfluidic channel. Recently, we reported a new analytical method of DNA hybridization involving a PDMS microfluidic sensor using fluorescence energy transfer (FRET). However, there are some limitations in its application to real DNA samples because the target DNA must be labelled with a suitable fluorescent dye. To resolve this problem, we have developed a new DNA microfluidic sensor using a molecular beacon. By monitoring the change in the restored fluorescence intensity along the channel length, it is possible to rapidly detect any hybridization of the molecular beacon to the target DNA. In this case, the target DNA does not need to be labelled. Our experimental results demonstrate that this microfluidic sensor using a molecular beacon is a promising diagnostic tool for rapid DNA hybridization analysis.     

Fluorescence aptasensor based on competitive-binding for human neutrophil elastase detection

To our knowledge, we report the first fluorescence aptasensor for detecting human neutrophil elastase (HNE) in homogeneous solution. The biosensor contains a short DNA scrambled sequence strand (SS) complementary to part of the aptamer sequence or the loop of molecular beacon (MB). The aptamer-HNE recognition event involves competition between the molecular beacon and loose HNE aptamer for the binding the short DNA strand. The new biosensor can detect as little as 0.34 nM of HNE, and the response is linear in the tested concentration range of 0.34-68 nM with the detection limit of 47 pM.     

Using molecular beacon to monitor activity of E. coli DNA ligase

NAD(+)-dependent DNA ligase has been widely used in gene diagnostics for disease-associated mutation detection and has proved to be necessary for screening bactericidal drugs targeted to DNA ligases. However, further research has been restricted since conventional ligase assay technology is limited to gel electrophoresis, which is discontinuous, time-consuming and laborious. An innovative approach is developed for monitoring the activity of E. coli DNA ligase catalyzing nucleic acid ligation in the report. This approach utilizes a molecular beacon hybridized with two single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) segments to be ligated to form a hybrid with a nick, and could therefore be recognized by the enzyme. Ligation of the two ssDNA segments would cause conformation changes of the molecular beacon, leading to significant fluorescence enhancement. Compared to gel electrophoresis, this approach can provide real time information about ligase, is more time efficient, and is easier to use. The effect of quinacrine, a drug for malaria, on the activity of the ligase is detected, thereby certifying the capability of the method for developing novel antibacterial drugs targeted at NAD(+)-dependent ligase. The fidelity of strand joining by the ligase is examined based on this approach. The effects of external factors on activity of the ligase are analyzed, and then an assay of E. coli DNA ligase is performed with a broad linear range of 4.0 x 10(-4) Weiss Unit mL(-1) to 0.4 Weiss Unit mL(-1) and the detection limit of 4.0 x 10(-4) Weiss Unit mL(-1).     

Monitoring molecular beacon DNA probe hybridization at the single-molecule level

We have monitored the reaction dynamics of the DNA hybridization process on a liquid/solid interface at the single-molecule level by using a hairpin-type molecular beacon DNA probe. Fluorescence images of single DNA probes were recorded by using total internal reflection fluorescence microscopy. The fluorescence signal of single DNA probes during the hybridization to individual complementary DNA probes was monitored over time. Among 400 molecular beacon DNA probes that we tracked, 349 molecular beacons (87.5 %) were hybridized quickly and showed an abrupt fluorescence increase, while 51 probes (12.5 %) reacted slowly, resulting in a gradual fluorescence increase. This ratio stayed about the same when varying the concentrations of cDNA in MB hybridization on the liquid/surface interface. Statistical data of the 51 single-molecule hybridization images showed that there was a multistep hybridization process. Our results also showed that photostability for the dye molecules associated with the double-stranded hybrids was better than that for those with the single-stranded molecular beacon DNA probes. Our results demonstrate the ability to obtain a better understanding of DNA hybridization processes using single-molecule techniques, which will improve biosensor and biochip development where surface-immobilized molecular beacon DNA probes provide unique advantages in signal transduction.     

A novel one cycle allele specific primer extension--molecular beacon displacement method for DNA point mutation detection with improved specificity

We report here a new method for the real-time detection of DNA point mutations with molecular beacon as the fluorescence tracer and 3′ (exo-) Bst DNA polymerase large fragment as the polymerase. The method is based on the mechanism of allele specific primer extension-strand displacement (ASPE-SD). To improve the specificity of the method only one cycle of the allele specific polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used that could largely eliminate the non-specific reactions between the primers and template of the “wrong” genotype. At first, the primer and molecular beacon both hybridize to the DNA template, and the molecular beacon emits intensive fluorescence. The role of 3′ exonuclease excision of Bst DNA polymerase large fragment is utilized for primer extension. When 3′-termini matches its corresponding template, the primer would efficiently extend and replace the molecular beacon that would simultaneously return to its closed form leading to the quenching of the fluorescence. However, when 3′-termini of the primer mismatches its corresponding template primer extension and molecular beacon displacement would not happen and fluorescence of the hybridized molecular beacon holds the line without fluorescence quenching. This approach was fully demonstrated in synthetic template systems and applied to detect point mutation at codon 259, a possible point mutation site in exon 7 of p53 gene, obtained from human genomic DNA samples with unambiguous differentiation power.     

Single-molecule analysis enables free solution hydrodynamic separation using yoctomole levels of DNA

Single-molecule free solution hydrodynamic separation (SML-FSHS) cohesively integrates cylindrical illumination confocal spectroscopy with free solution hydrodynamic separation. This technique enables single-molecule analysis of size separated DNA with 100% mass detection efficiency, high sizing resolution and wide dynamic range, surpassing the performance of single molecule capillary electrophoresis. Furthermore, SML-FSHS required only a bare fused silica microcapillary and simple pressure control rather than complex high voltage power supplies, sieving matrices, and wall coatings. The wide dynamic range and high sizing resolution of SML-FSHS was demonstrated by separating both large DNA (23 vs 27 kbp) and small DNA (100 vs 200 bp) under identical conditions. Separations were successfully performed with near zero sample consumption using as little as 5 pL of sample and 240 yoctomoles (～150 molecules) of DNA. Quantitative accuracy was predominantly limited by molecular shot noise. Furthermore, the ability of this method to analyze of single molecule nanosensors was investigated. SML-FSHS was used to examine the thermodynamic equilibrium between stochastically open molecular beacon and target-bound molecular beacon in the detection of E. coli 16s rRNA targets.     

Real-time Monitoring of Nucleotide Excision of Molecular Beacon Catalyzed by Klenow Fragment

Klenow fragment(KF) uses the activity of a separate exonuclease to excise nucleotide, which is a crucial step in DNA replication and repair. Here is a novel sensitive and convenient method introduced for real-time monitoring nucleotide excision by KF with a molecular beacon as a detecting probe in a homogeneous solution. This method, which overcomes the drawbacks of traditional methods such as discontinuity, time consuming and low sensitivity, was used to assay KF activity and the detection limit reached up to 0.4 U/mL. In addition, the method was applied to investigating the effects of metal ions and chemical drugs on the reaction. The results demonstrate that it is a potential high-throughput assay for screening inhibitors and activity analysis of KF in vitro.     

Synchronized assembly of gold nanoparticles driven by a dynamic DNA-fueled molecular machine

A strategy for gold nanoparticle (AuNP) assembly driven by a dynamic DNA-fueled molecular machine is revealed here. In this machine, the aggregation of DNA-functionalized AuNPs is regulated by a series of toehold-mediated strand displacement reactions of DNA. The aggregation rate of the AuNPs can be regulated by controlling the amount of oligonucleotide catalyst. The versatility of the dynamic DNA-fueled molecular machine in the construction of two-component "OR" and "AND" logic gates has been demonstrated. This newly established strategy may find broad potential applications in terms of building up an "interface" that allows the combination of the strand displacement-based characteristic of DNA with the distinct assembly properties of inorganic nanoparticles, ultimately leading to the fabrication of a wide range of complex multicomponent devices and architectures.