分子内裂分G-四链体脱氧核糖核酸酶用于Hg2+的特异性定量检测

G-四链体DNA酶是由核酸G-四链体与氯化血红素(Hemin)结合后形成的一种具有过氧化物酶活性的人工酶,利用这种DNA酶,可进行多种化学及生物传感器的设计。为提高G-四链体DNA酶类Hg2+传感器的选择性,本研究在传感器的设计过程中引入了分子内裂分G-四链体,即将形成G-四链体的富G序列拆分成两部分,分别放置在Hg2+探测序列的两端。在无Hg2+存在时,部分富G序列被包埋在某一分子内二倍体结构中,无法形成G-四链体。而在Hg2+存在下,Hg2+对T-T碱基错配的稳定能力可以促使Hg2+探测序列形成分子内二倍体结构,并伴随着原有分子间二倍体结构的破坏及分子内裂分G-四链体的生成。利用生成的裂分G-四链体与Hemin作用后检测体系酶活性的提高,实现Hg2+传感器的设计。利用该传感器,可在50～500 nmol/L及2.0～7.5μmol/L两个浓度范围内实现Hg2+的定量检测,检出限为47 nmol/L。由于裂分G-四链体DNA酶的使用强化了传感器对Hg2+的依赖性,极大地提高了设计的Hg2+传感器的选择性。对实际水样的加标回收结果显示,回收率为97.5%～104.5%,证明此传感器可以满足实际水样中痕量Hg2+的分析要求。     

基于寡核苷酸链的汞离子荧光生物传感器

基于G-四链体结构和卟啉类化合物N-甲基卟啉二丙酸IX(NMM)结合产生强烈的荧光,利用T-Hg(Ⅱ)-T错配对汞离子(Hg2+)的特异性识别,建立了一种简单、灵敏、高效的Hg2+检测新方法.在富含鸟嘌呤(G)寡核苷酸链中,引入了大量胸腺嘧啶(T).在没有Hg2+存在时,可以自发形成G-四链体结构,与NMM结合产生强烈的荧光;在Hg2+存在时,可与另一条富含T序列的互补链通过T-Hg(Ⅱ)-T特异性结合,形成双链DNA分子,从而导致G-四链体结构不能产生.优化后最佳实验条件为:缓冲溶液的pH=6.7,20 mmol/LKCl,2.5 μmol/L NMM,反应时间为2h.在优化条件下,体系的荧光强度变化值与Hg2+浓度呈现良好的线性关系,线性范围为50～ 1000 nmol/L,检出限为22.8 nmol/L(30).此生物荧光传感器对Hg2+具有良好的选择性.实际水样中Hg2+的加标回收率为106.1％ ～ 107.8％,可以满足实际水样品中Hg2+的检测要求.     

基于磁纳米颗粒和分子间裂分G-四链体-血红素DNA酶的Ag+和半胱氨酸传感器研究

以磁纳米颗粒为固定DNA探针的固相载体,发展了一种基于分子间裂分G-四链体-血红素DNA酶的Ag＋和半胱氨酸传感器。当磁纳米颗粒表面DNA二聚体中富鸟嘌呤( G)序列与Ag＋结合时,Ag＋可有效地阻止碱基G之间Hoogsteen氢键的形成,破坏G-四链体结构。而半胱氨酸存在时,巯基与Ag＋之间相互作用,将Ag＋从碱基G上取代下来,促进G-四链体的重新形成,显示出类过氧化物酶的催化活性,催化2,2＇-连氮基-双-(3-乙基苯并二氢噻挫啉-6-磺酸(ABTS)-H2O2反应体系的显色反应。本方法可以直接通过磁分离从样品中将检测探针与复杂体系中的干扰组分分离,有效提高了灵敏度,降低了背景信号,实现了实际样品中Ag＋和半胱氨酸的快速、灵敏、特异的比色分析。在最优条件下,Ag＋的线性检测范围为0.5~100 nmol/L,检出限为0.2 nmol/L;对半胱氨酸的线性检测范围为0.1~80 nmol/L,检出限为0.04 nmol/L。     

Ag+与Hg2+对G-四链体DNA结构的破坏及其对构筑DNA逻辑门的应用

本工作利用圆二色光谱研究了Ag+与Hg2+对4种代表性G-四链体DNA结构的破坏作用。结果表明Ag+可能通过与碱基G螯合从而破坏G-四链体结构;Hg2+能通过形成T-Hg2+-T碱基对,及其他方式破坏G-四链体结构。含巯基(-SH)的半胱氨酸与Ag+与Hg2+可以发生较强的配位作用,从而使被Ag+与Hg2+破坏后的G-四链体DNA结构得以回复。基于此,一个新颖的Ag+/Hg2+-半胱氨酸-DNA逻辑门得以构筑。     

基于G-四链体-氯化血红素DNA酶比色法测定银离子和汞离子传感器的构筑

利用G-四链体DNA(5′-CTGGGAGGGAGGGAGGGA-3′)与氯化血红素结合形成G-四链体-Hemin DNA酶,其能高效催化H_2O_2氧化反应底物由无色变为绿色,当溶液中有Ag~+或Hg~(2+)存在时会阻碍该DNA酶的形成,导致绿色溶液变浅。基于此,建立了比色法测定Ag~+和Hg~(2+)的传感器。在最佳实验条件下,溶液的吸光度与Ag~+和Hg~(2+)浓度分别在100.0～1 000.0 nmol/L和80.0～800.0 nmol/L范围内具有良好的线性关系,检出限(3δ/Slope)分别为55.9 nmol/L和64.3 nmol/L。该方法具有较好的选择性,采用该方法对实际样品进行测试,结果满意。     

无标记增强型检测Hg2+的荧光DNA传感器

基于Hg2+与T–T错配碱基对能特异性结合形成T-Hg2+-T结构以及结晶紫(CV)与单、双链DNA作用后荧光信号的差异,构建了一种荧光增强型检测Hg2+的DNA生物传感器。实验考察了不同序列DNA及溶液的pH、DNA与CV浓度比、稳定时间等因素对灵敏度的影响。在优化的条件下体系荧光效率和Hg2+浓度在2～40 nmol/L范围内呈良好的线性关系,检出限为0.7 nmol/L。并且高浓度的Ca2+,Mg2+等常见金属离子对Hg2+的检测没有干扰。方法为重金属Hg2+的检测提供了一个较好的荧光分析方法。     

基于富G序列的无标记荧光传感器检测单链核酸

具有特定构象的富G序列（如G-四链体和G-三链体）与荧光染料相互作用可有效增强其荧光信号强度，被广泛应用于构建无标记荧光生物传感。本研究以硫磺素T(Thioflavin T, ThT)为荧光染料，构建了两种基于富G序列的无标记荧光传感器，用于检测阿尔兹海默病标志物β-淀粉样蛋白（β-Amyloid protein, Aβ）的基因序列。实验结果表明，分子发夹茎长为4个碱基时，富G序列以G-三链体的结构存在，以此构建的G-三链体传感器的输出信号随Aβ基因浓度增加而降低，线性检测范围为1～100 nmol/L，检出限为0.3 nmol/L(S/N=3)。分子发夹茎长为8个碱基且5′端添加碱基AATT时，其与Aβ基因结合后，富G序列多以G-四链体结构存在，以此构建的G-四链体传感器的输出信号随Aβ基因浓度增加而增强，线性检测范围为0.1～100 nmol/L，检出限为0.04 nmol/L (S/N=3)。两种传感器制备过程相似但检测原理不同，为富G序列的深入研究与应用提供了参考，同时为单链核酸的无标记荧光检测提供了新的思路。     

G-四链体序列的微小变化对结构及钾离子传感的影响

人体端粒DNA重复单元GGGTTA在K+溶液中可以形成G-四链体结构,并已成功利用结构变化过程中的荧光改变进行K+的检测。在此基础上研究了在寡聚核苷酸的GGG部分插入腺嘌呤碱基A对G-四链体结构及在K+检测中的影响。借助圆二色光谱、质谱和荧光光谱的方法可以分别获得序列变化引起的G1四链体排列的平行或反平行结构,可以结合的K+数目,以及在K+传感时所适用的K+浓度范围。在GGG中插入A可以使K+更容易进入G-四链体分子空穴,但当在两个GGG中同时插入A时,G-四链体结构难以形成。基于K+线性响应范围的变化(由0.02~1 mmol/L变为0.2~16 mmol/L),可以改进基于DNA的K+传感器,使直接测定人体血清中K+的含量成为可能。     

基于CRISPR-Cas12a与G-四链体构建免标记电化学生物传感器检测microRNA

CRISPR-Cas12a是一种功能强大且可编程的分子诊断技术。本文基于CRISPR-Cas12a的附属切割活性与G-四链体/氯化血红素（Hemin）复合物,设计了一个免标记电化学生物传感器,实现对miRNA的强特异性检测。靶标miRNA-21与双链DNA探针上的Toehold区域结合并发生链置换反应,置换出双链DNA探针中较短的DNA。置换下来的DNA可以有效地激活CRISPR-Cas12a的附属切割活性。随后,具有附属切割活性的Cas12a切割电极表面上形成G-四链体/Hemin的DNA序列,导致电流信号减弱。在最优条件下,电流信号强度变化与10～100 pmol/L范围内的miRNA-21浓度呈良好的线性关系,检出限为4.2 pmol/L。该电化学生物传感器能够实现对单个碱基突变的miRNA-21或其它miRNA序列特异性识别,并可用于人血清样本（10%）中miRNA-21的检测。     

基于纳米金Core-satellites等离子体耦合增强效应的汞离子光纤传感器的研究

以DNA杂交双链为联接, 构建纳米金颗粒Core-satellites结构并激发等离子体耦合增强效应,利用Hg2+可与DNA中胸腺嘧啶T形成T-Hg2+-T特异性结构,研制了用于检测水中Hg2+的局域等离子体共振(LSPR)光纤传感器.待测溶液中的Hg2+能够引起富含T的DNA单链折叠,抑制DNA杂交反应,降低等离子体耦合强度,改变LSPR谐振波长.通过检测谐振波长红移变化,实现对Hg2+浓度的定量检测.本方法检测Hg2+的线性范围为5~150 nmol/L, 检出限为3.4 nmol/L (3σ). Zn2+、Mg2+、Pb2+等重金属离子对Hg2+检测无明显干扰作用.实际水样中Hg2+加样回收率为94.2%~105.4%,相对标准偏差<4.8%.     

Homogeneous Chemiluminescent Determination of Mercury(II) Using a Peroxidase-Mimicking DNAzyme Assay

Environmental pollution in manufacturing sectors is often accompanied by the release of diverse forms of pollutants including heavy metals. Mercury is one of the most toxic heavy metals. Here, we describe a homogeneous chemiluminescent method for Hg²⁺ detection based on allosteric activation of peroxidase-mimicking DNAzyme and formation of Hg²⁺-thymine bonds in DNA duplex with T–T mismatches in the presence of mercury. The formation of such duplex increased the activity of peroxidase-mimicking DNAzyme. The analysis conditions and structures of probes were optimized. Under the favorable conditions, the limit of detection and a linear range of the assay were 12 and 12–600?nM, respectively. The values of coefficient of variation measured within the working range varied from 0.7 to 3.0%. The study of cross-reactivity of Hg²⁺, Ag⁺, Pb²⁺, Ca²⁺, Zn²⁺, Bi³⁺, Ni²⁺, Co²⁺, Ba²⁺, Mn²⁺, Cd²⁺, Mg²⁺, and Cr³⁺ showed that only mercury in concentration nanoscale activates peroxidase-mimicking DNAzyme that indicates high specificity of the developed Hg²⁺ assay. Thus, an easy-to-use, specific, rapid, and sensitive method for Hg²⁺ detection was developed.     

Sensitive pseudobienzyme electrocatalytic DNA biosensor for mercury(II) ion by using the autonomously assembled hemin/G-quadruplex DNAzyme nanowires for signal amplification

Herein, a novel sensitive pseudobienzyme electrocatalytic DNA biosensor was proposed for mercury ion (Hg²⁺) detection by using autonomously assembled hemin/G-quadruplex DNAzyme nanowires for signal amplification. Thiol functionalized capture DNA was firstly immobilized on a nano-Au modified glass carbon electrode (GCE). In presence of Hg²⁺, the specific coordination between Hg²⁺ and T could result in the assembly of primer DNA on the electrode, which successfully triggered the HCR to form the hemin/G-quadruplex DNAzyme nanowires with substantial redox probe thionine (Thi). In the electrolyte of PBS containing NADH, the hemin/G-quadruplex nanowires firstly acted as an NADH oxidase to assist the concomitant formation of H₂O₂ in the presence of dissolved O₂. Then, with the redox probe Thi as electron mediator, the hemin/G-quadruplex nanowires acted as an HRP-mimicking DNAzyme that quickly bioelectrocatalyzed the reduction of produced H₂O₂, which finally led to a dramatically amplified electrochemical signal. This method has demonstrated a high sensitivity of Hg²⁺ detection with the dynamic concentration range spanning from 1.0 ng L⁻¹ to 10 mg L⁻¹ Hg²⁺ and a detection limit of 0.5 ng L⁻¹ (2.5 pM) at the 3S_blank level, and it also demonstrated excellent selectivity against other interferential metal ions.     

Highly selective detection of mercury (II) using a G-rich oligonucleotide-based fluorescence quenching method

We provide a highly sensitive and selective assay to detect Hg²⁺ in aqueous solutions using single fluorescence-labeled G-quadruplex at room temperature. The mechanism is that AS1411 converted to G-quadruplex in the presence of potassium ion, and then, by this technique utilizing the high binding capacity of T–Hg²⁺–T makes the fluorescence dye come closer to GGG of AS1411 to causing fluorescence signal quenching by photoinduced electron transfer energy transfer. At physiological pH, the detection limit can be as low as 10 nM, with high selectivity toward Hg²⁺ ions over a lot of metal ions. The linear correlation existed between the fluorescence intensity and the concentration of Hg²⁺ over the range of 0–250 nM (R = 0.9920) in real sample. Accordingly, we expect this G-quadruplex-based sensor will be a potential application for detection of environmentally toxic mercury.     

DNA/Single-Walled Carbon Nanotubes Based Fluorescence Detection of Hg2+

A new, highly selective, and sensitive technique has been developed for the detection of Hg²⁺ using singled-wall carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) and two kinds of oligonucleotides. The fluorescence of the thymine-rich single stranded DNA labeled with dye (the probe ssDNA) was effectively quenched by the SWNTs. In the presence of a target DNA (rich T-T mismatched with probe), the tightness of the DNA wrapping around the SWNTs was loosened. Since binding of Hg²⁺ turned the T-T mismatches to stable T-Hg²⁺-T base pairs, and the binding rate of DNA and the nanotube was lower than that of DNA hybridization, it induced the release of DNA molecules from the SWNTs, and this resulted in a remarkable increase of fluorescence compared to that of the DNA-SWNTs. The assay exhibited a dynamic response range for Hg²⁺ from 4.52 × 10^?8 M to 7.21 × 10^?7 M with a detection limit of 10 nM.     

Detection of Metal Ions (Cu2+, Hg2+) and Cocaine by Using Ligation DNAzyme Machinery

The Cu²⁺‐dependent ligation DNAzyme is implemented as a biocatalyst for the colorimetric or chemiluminescence detection of Cu²⁺ ions, Hg²⁺ ions, or cocaine. These sensing platforms are based on the structural tailoring of the sequence of the Cu²⁺‐dependent ligation DNAzyme for specific analytes. The tethering of a subunit of the hemin/G‐quadruplex DNAzyme to the ligation DNAzyme sequence, and the incorporation of an imidazole‐functionalized nucleic‐acid sequence, which acts as a co‐substrate for the ligation DNAzyme that is tethered to the complementary hemin/G‐quadruplex subunit. In the presence of different analytes, Cu²⁺ ions, Hg²⁺ ions, or cocaine, the pretailored Cu²⁺‐dependent ligation DNAzyme sequence stimulates the respective ligation process by combining the imidazole‐functionalized co‐substrate with the ligation DNAzyme sequence. These reactions lead to the self‐assembly of stable hemin/G‐quadruplex DNAzyme nanostructures that enable the colorimetric analysis of the substrate through the DNAzyme‐catalyzed oxidation of 2,2′‐azinobis(3‐ethylbenzothiazoline‐6‐sulfonic acid), ABTS^2?, by H₂O₂ into the colored product ABTS^.?, or the chemiluminescence detection of the substrate through the DNAzyme‐catalyzed oxidation of luminol by H₂O₂. The detection limits for the sensing of Cu²⁺ ions, Hg²⁺ ions, and cocaine correspond to 1 nM , 10 nM and 2.5 μM , respectively. These different sensing platforms also reveal impressive selectivities.     

A Novel Surface‐tethered Analysis Method for Mercury (II) ion Detection via Self‐assembly of Individual Electrochemiluminescence Signal Units

A novel analysis strategy based on the analyte‐induced surface‐tethered (AIST) of electrochemiluminescence (ECL) signal nanoparticles was first proposed for detection of Mercury (II) ion (Hg²⁺). In this work, luminol@Au‐cysteamine‐thymine (luminol@Au‐Cys‐T) multifunctional nanoarchitecture was designed as ECL signal units in the experimental process. Through a specific T‐Hg²⁺‐T coordination, luminol@Au‐Cys‐T composites were gravitationally self‐assembled to the electrode surface, which was coated with tris (2‐aminoethyl) amine functionalized graphene oxide@perylene‐3,4,9,10‐tetracarboxylic acid‐thymine (GO@PTCA‐TAEA‐T) complex film. This simple strategy of AIST of signal molecules could amplify the response signal and vastly enhance the sensitivity. Under the optimum condition, the linear relationship of Hg²⁺ concentration variation from 0.005 nM to 5 nM with a limit of detection (LOD) down to 0.002 nM (S/N=3), which also offered an alternative analytical approach with excellent performance of stability and selectivity. The regression equation was y=−414.52+2305.02 lgC_(Hg²⁺₎ (pM). This Hg²⁺ ECL sensor had a good application prospects for the analysis of real samples.     

Lighting‐Up of the Dye Malachite Green with Mercury(II)–DNA and Its Application for Fluorescence Turn‐Off Detection of Cysteine and Glutathione

This work describes a novel strategy for the highly sensitive and selective detection of cysteine (Cys) and glutathione (GSH) based on the Hg²⁺–AGRO100–malachite green (MG) complex system. The dye MG, which has a very low quantum yield in aqueous solution by itself, can bind with the thymine‐rich DNA AGRO100 in the presence of Hg²⁺ ions to generate a striking fluorescence intensity enhancement of 1000‐fold. As sulfur‐containing amino acids, Cys and GSH effectively sequester Hg²⁺ ions from the Hg²⁺–AGRO100–MG complex structure to switch the ‘lit‐up’ chemosensor to the ‘off’ state (about a 50‐fold fluorescence intensity decrease), thus providing a facile, but effective, method to probe for Cys/GSH. The fluorescence titration, UV absorption, CD, and Raman spectra provide some insight into the structural and chemical basis for the enhancement effect. The formation of the Hg²⁺–AGRO100–MG complex significantly affects the electronic structure and conformation of the MG molecule by leading to an extended π system, which is the likely origin of the observed striking fluorescence intensity enhancement. Notably, the proposed sensing platform exhibits exquisite selectivity and sensitivity toward Cys/GSH with limits of detection of 5 nM for Cys and 10 nM for GSH, respectively. Furthermore, the straightforward assay design avoids labeling of the probe, uses only commercially available materials, and still displays comparable sensitivity and excellent selectivity.     

G-quadruplex-hemin DNAzyme-amplified colorimetric detection of Ag ion

A G-quadruplex-hemin DNAzyme-amplified Ag⁺-sensing method was developed based on the ability of Ag⁺ to stabilize C-C mismatches by forming C-Ag⁺-C base pairs. In this method, only one unlabelled oligonucleotide strand was used. In the absence of Ag⁺, the oligonucleotide strand formed an intramolecular duplex. The G-rich sequence in the oligonucleotide was partially caged in this duplex structure and cannot fold into the G-quadruplex structure. The addition of Ag⁺ promoted the formation of another intramolecular duplex in which C-C mismatches were stabilized by C-Ag⁺-C base pairs, leading to the release of the G-rich sequence which can fold into a G-quadruplex capable to bind hemin to form a catalytically active G-quadruplex-hemin DNAzyme. As a result, a UV-vis absorbance increasing was observed in the H₂O₂-ABTS (2,2′-azinobis(3-ethylbenzothiozoline)-6-sulfonic acid) reaction system. This “turn-on” process allowed the detection of aqueous Ag⁺ at concentrations as low as 6.3 nM using a simple colorimetric technique, showing a high selectivity over a range of other metal ions.     

A new BODIPY-based fluorescent “turn-on” probe for highly selective and rapid detection of mercury ions

A new fluorescent sensor based on the BODIPY fluorophore and the carboxyl-thiol metal bonding receptor for Hg²⁺ was designed and synthesized. The sensor is highly selective for Hg²⁺ (about 630-fold fluorescence enhancement) over relevant competing metal ions, sensitive to ppb levels of Hg²⁺ (with detection limit of 5.7?nM), and fast response toward Hg²⁺ (within 30?s) in aqueous solution.