激活式复合功能核酸化学发光传感器检测葡萄酒中的赭曲霉毒素A

构建了以赭曲霉毒素A(OTA)核酸适配体为"裂开型"核酶激活"开关"的化学发光传感器,用于葡萄酒中OTA的高灵敏度检测.K+诱导富含G碱基的寡聚核苷酸折叠成平行G-四链体结构,平行G-四链体与血红素复合生成具有类过氧化物酶活性的核酶,可催化过氧化氢氧化鲁米诺产生化学发光.将OTA核酸适配体序列插入可形成核酶的"裂开型"...     

基于核酸适配体的荧光法检测水胺硫磷和丙溴磷

建立了基于适配体的农药水胺硫磷和丙溴磷的荧光检测方法.采用可特异性识别水胺硫磷和丙溴磷、且5 '端标记荧光基团FAM的核酸适配体(F-ssDNA),与3 '末端标记猝灭基团DABCYL的短链序列(Q-ssDNA)互补杂交形成双链结构,荧光基团的荧光被淬灭,荧光信号很弱;此时加入靶分子,特异性结合核酸适配体,引起互补短链序列从双链结构中解离,使适配体荧光信号增强,基于此可实现水胺硫磷、丙溴磷的定量检测.优化后的检测条件为:将终浓度为25 nmol/L F-ssDNA与50 nmol/L Q-ssDNA在25℃孵育20 min,使二者杂交形成双链适配体探针复合物,加入等体积的农药样品孵育60 min,然后检测体系的荧光信号变化值△I.在最佳条件下,△I与水胺硫磷和丙溴磷的浓度均在50～ 500 μmol/L范围内呈线性关系.水胺硫磷的检出限(LOD,3σ)为11.4 μmol/L,相对标准偏差(RSD)为5.8％(n=10);丙溴磷的检出限为14.0 μmol/L,RSD为4.9％(n=l0).用于实际水样中两种农药的检测,加标回收率为85.8％ ～95.3％.     

金属有机骨架材料-核酸适配体荧光法检测沙门氏菌

基于金属有机骨架材料(Uio-66-NH2)的荧光猝灭特性以及对核酸适配体的吸附性,结合核酸适配体的高亲和力与高特异性识别能力,构建了针对沙门氏菌检测的荧光生物传感器,当有荧光素修饰的沙门氏菌、适配体被材料吸附到表面时,由于材料诱导电子转移猝灭了荧光素的荧光,若溶液中存在沙门氏菌,则沙门氏菌与其适配体特异性结合后从材料表面脱附,材料与荧光素之间的电子转移过程被切断,荧光素的荧光恢复。基于此原理构建的荧光传感器的信号与沙门氏菌浓度的对数在101~105cfu/m L范围内呈良好的线性关系,检出限(S/N=3)为7 cfu/m L,将该方法用于虾肉样品中沙门氏菌的检测,加标回收率为90.0%~108.0%,该传感器对沙门氏菌有较好的选择性与灵敏度。     

基于核酸适配体的荧光法检测中药中赭曲霉素A

赭曲霉素A(OTA)是污染中药材的重要真菌毒素,严重影响中药材质量和用药安全.在小檗碱溶液中加入OTA和其核酸适配体后,处于随意卷曲状态的核酸适配体会被OTA诱导折叠成为G-四链体构象,使小檗碱的微环境发生改变,从而增强其荧光信号.基于此,本文以OTA核酸适配体为识别原件,小檗碱为荧光探针发展了一种无标记的荧光体系检测OTA.对主要影响因素,包括K+,Mg2,小檗碱和核酸适配体浓度进行了优化.在最佳实验条件下,小檗碱荧光信号变化值与OTA浓度在5～200 nmol/L范围内成正比,检出限5 nmol/L.该方法仅使用无标记的核酸适配体完成了OTA的检测,避免了对核酸适配体的繁琐设计和标记.方法 有较高的特异性,并成功应用于中药桔梗中OTA的检测,回收率在86.3％～105.6％之间.     

核酸适配体封盖的介孔二氧化硅纳米颗粒用于肌红蛋白的检测

利用核酸适配体封盖的介孔二氧化硅纳米颗粒构建了一种新型、 简便及免标记的肌红蛋白定量检测方法. 首先, 用肌红蛋白核酸适配体将荧光小分子罗丹明6G封盖在介孔颗粒内, 当存在目标物肌红蛋白时, 由于介孔颗粒上的核酸适配体可特异性结合肌红蛋白而脱离介孔颗粒表面, 进而释放介孔颗粒内的罗丹明6G, 使溶液荧光强度增强. 实验结果表明, 荧光强度与肌红蛋白的浓度呈正相关, 通过荧光强度的变化可实现对肌红蛋白的定量检测. 该方法的检出限低至1.1 nmol/L, 且选择性好, 可满足临床医学的检测要求.     

基于核酸适配体和金纳米颗粒的荧光比色双模式检测As(Ⅲ)

基于金纳米颗粒(AuNPs)对荧光基团的荧光共振能量转移和其自身独特的光学效应,结合高亲和力和高特异性的核酸适配体,建立了一种荧光和比色双模式检测As(Ⅲ)的方法.将荧光基团修饰的As(Ⅲ)特异的核酸适配体(FAM-Apt)吸附在未修饰的AuNPs表面,FAM-Apt与AuNPs之间发生荧光共振能量转移,导致荧光猝灭....     

基于主客体竞争模式的凝血酶适配体传感器的研究

基于β-环糊精(β-CD)主客体竞争模式,构建了开关型凝血酶适配体电化学传感器.将末端修饰了二茂铁(Fc)的核酸适配体通过与β-CD的主客体识别固定在金电极表面,当凝血酶存在时,适配体由原来的直立线状构型变为"G-四链体",远离电极表面,适配体探针的氧化还原电流强度减小,即"Signal-off".利用此效应对凝血酶进行了灵敏检测,结果表明,在5.0×10-13~5.0×10-9 mol/L浓度范围内,凝血酶的浓度与电化学响应信号呈良好的线性关系,检出限为2.0×10-13 mol/L(3σ).与其它蛋白分子相比,本方法对凝血酶蛋白的检测具有高特异性.本传感器构建简单,再生性好,为生物血清样本中凝血酶的实时高效检测提供了方法.     

基于非标记适配体结构变化荧光法检测黄曲霉毒素B1

构建了一种基于非标记适配体结构变化荧光检测黄曲霉毒素B1(AFB1)的方法。无AFB1时,一条非标记的AFB1适配体同时与2条短互补DNA链杂交,形成DNA双链结构,导致标记于其中一条互补DNA的3’端的荧光素（FAM）与标记于另一条互补DNA的5’端的淬灭剂（BHQ1）相邻近,发生荧光共振能量转移,FAM荧光被BHQ1淬灭。AFB1存在时,适配体与AFB1结合,而不与互补DNA发生杂交。此时,FAM与BHQ1距离较远,FAM荧光不能被淬灭。通过测量体系荧光强度变化可定量检测AFB1。方法检出限0.2 nmol/L,定量检测范围1.0 nmol/L～4.0μmol/L。该方法无需共价标记适配体,操作简便,特异性好,能够用于检测复杂基质样品中的AFB1。     

核酸适配体介导的荧光铜纳米簇用于免标记快速检测水胺硫磷

基于核酸适配体的靶标识别能力和铜纳米簇（CuNCs）优良的荧光性能,本研究开发了一种免标记荧光探针用于有机磷农药水胺硫磷（ISO）的快速检测。当靶标分子ISO不存在时,溶液中ISO的核酸适配体和互补DNA形成双链结构,从而介导合成荧光CuNCs,表现出高的荧光信号;当待测样品中存在ISO时,ISO与其核酸适配体形成复合物,释放出单链互补DNA。游离的单链DNA不能介导合成CuNCs,导致溶液中的荧光信号减弱。在最佳条件下,检测体系的荧光抑制率与ISO浓度的对数在0.05～25 mg/L浓度范围内呈线性关系,检出限为47μg/L (3σ),其它物质对其检测几乎没有干扰。将此探针用于检测水样中的ISO,回收率为80.3%～108.0%。研究结果表明,本方法可用于检测实际样品中的ISO残留。     

基于磁性辅助的杂交链反应放大检测三磷酸腺苷

本文提出了一种基于磁性辅助的杂交链反应放大检测三磷酸腺苷(ATP)的传感策略。磁性纳米粒子表面易于修饰,而且操作方便,具有很好的分离效果,能够提高生物传感的选择性。首先,利用生物素与链霉亲和素之间的亲和力作用,将生物素标记的ATP核酸适配体连接到链霉亲和素修饰的磁性纳米粒子表面,加入与ATP核酸适配体互补的一段DNA进行杂交,通过磁性分离除去未杂交上的DNA,加入靶向ATP,ATP与其适配体特异性结合将适配体的互补链通过磁性分离出来,磁性分离出的信号DNA继续用于下一步的杂交链反应,将信号放大,最后利用氧化石墨烯(GO)对荧光的猝灭效应降低背景荧光,达到高灵敏度、高选择性检测靶向ATP。其中,ATP的最低检测浓度为0.1nmol/L。     

Inside Cover: Artificial Ribozyme Switches Containing Natural Riboswitch Aptamer Domains (Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 15/2009)

Fusions of a ribozyme and an aptamer of a natural riboswitch (thiamine pyrophosphate, TPP) are used to construct artificial thiamine‐dependent switches of gene expression. As J. S. Hartig et al. describe in their Communication on page 2715 ff. , insertion of these RNA elements into bacterial mRNAs allows translation of the message to be switched on or off. TPP triggers changes to the ribozyme‐mediated mRNA cleavage, resulting in liberation of the message for translational initiation.

     

Layer-by-layer assembly of small interfering RNA and poly(ethyleneimine) for substrate-mediated electroporation with high efficiency

Electroporation microarrays have been developed for the high-throughput transfection of expression constructs and small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) into living mammalian cells. These techniques have potential to provide a platform for the cell-based analysis of gene functions. One of the key issues associated with microarray technology is the efficiency of transfection. The capability of attaining reasonably high transfection efficiency is the basis for obtaining functional data without false negatives. In this study, we aimed at improving the transfection efficiency in the system that siRNA loaded on an electrode is electroporated into cells cultured directly on the electrode. The strategy we adopted here is to increase the surface density of siRNA loaded onto electrodes. For this purpose, the layer-by-layer assembly of siRNA and cationic polymers, branched or linear form of poly(ethyleneimine), was performed. The multilayer thus obtained was characterized by infrared reflection-adsorption spectroscopy and surface plasmon resonance analysis. Transfection efficiency was evaluated in a system that siRNA specific for enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) was electroporated on the electrode into human embryonic kidney cells stably transformed with the EGFP gene. The suppression of EGFP expression was assessed by fluorescence microscopy and flow cytometry. Our data showed that the layer-by-layer assembly of siRNA with branched poly(ethyleneimine) facilitated to increase the surface density of loaded siRNA. As a result, the expression of EGFP gene in the electroporated cells was suppressed much more on the electrodes with the multilayer of siRNA than that with the monolayer.     

DNA-gold nanorod conjugates for remote control of localized gene expression by near infrared irradiation

Gold nanorods were attached to the gene of enhanced green fluorescence protein (EGFP) for the remote control of gene expression in living cells. The UV-vis spectroscopy, electrophoresis, and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) were used to study the optical and structural properties of the EGFP DNA and gold nanorod (EGFP-GNR) conjugates before and after femto-second near-infrared (NIR) laser irradiation. Upon NIR irradiation, the gold nanorods of EGFP-GNR conjugates underwent shape transformation that resulted in the release of EGFP DNA. When EGFP-GNR conjugates were delivered to cultured HeLa cells, induced GFP expression was specifically observed in cells that were locally exposed to NIR irradiation. Our results demonstrate the feasibility of using gold nanorods and NIR irradiation as means of remote control of gene expression in specific cells. This approach has potential applications in biological and medical studies.     

Photocaged morpholino oligomers for the light-regulation of gene function in zebrafish and Xenopus embryos

Morpholino oligonucleotides, or morpholinos, have emerged as powerful antisense reagents for evaluating gene function in both in vitro and in vivo contexts. However, the constitutive activity of these reagents limits their utility for applications that require spatiotemporal control, such as tissue-specific gene disruptions in embryos. Here we report a novel and efficient synthetic route for incorporating photocaged monomeric building blocks directly into morpholino oligomers and demonstrate the utility of these caged morpholinos in the light-activated control of gene function in both cell culture and living embryos. We demonstrate that a caged morpholino that targets enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) disrupts EGFP production only after exposure to UV light in both transfected cells and living zebrafish (Danio rerio) and Xenopus frog embryos. Finally, we show that a caged morpholino targeting chordin, a zebrafish gene that yields a distinct phenotype when functionally disrupted by conventional morpholinos, elicits a chordin phenotype in a UV-dependent manner. Our results suggest that photocaged morpholinos are readily synthesized and highly efficacious tools for light-activated spatiotemporal control of gene expression in multiple contexts.     

Artificial Ribozyme Switches Containing Natural Riboswitch Aptamer Domains

RNA Lego : The use of natural riboswitch aptamers in synthetic RNA switches (see picture) should broaden the scope of artificial RNA regulators dramatically. It is shown that thiamine pyrophosphate (TPP) aptamers can be used in engineered devices as very sensitive switches of gene expression in unmodified organisms. The approach demonstrates that intrinsic metabolites can be utilized as external effectors of cellular functions.

     

Benzimidazole conjugate of 1,1'-thiobis(2-naphthol) as switch-on fluorescence receptor for Ag+ and the complex as secondary recognition ensemble toward Cys, Asp, and Glu in aqueous methanolic solution: synthesis, characterization, ion and amino acid recognition, computational studies, and microscopy features

A new 1,1'-thiobis(2-naphthoxy)-based receptor molecule (L) containing a benzimidazole moiety has been synthesized and characterized by (1)H NMR, ESI-MS, and elemental analysis. The selectivity of L has been explored in aqueous methanol, resulting in selective (7.5 ± 0.5)-fold switch-on fluorescence response toward Ag(+) among 14 different transition, alkali, and alkaline earth metal ions studied. The complexation of Ag(+) by L has been addressed by ESI-MS, (1)H NMR, and UV-vis spectra. Microstructural features of L and its Ag(+) complex have been measured by AFM and TEM. The morphological features of L alone and L in the presence of Ag(+) differ dramatically both in shape and size, and the ion induces the formation of chains owing to its coordinating ability toward benzimidazole. Further, the in situ [Ag(+)-L] complex was titrated against 20 naturally occurring amino acids and found that this complex acts as a secondary recognition ensemble toward Cys, Asp, and Glu by switch-off fluorescence.     

Highly Soluble Porphyrin (TPP)-Perylene Diimide (PDI) Dyad and Triad:Synthesis and Spectroscopic Studies

Novel porphyrin‐perylene diimide dyad (TPP‐PDI) and porphyrin‐perylene diimide‐porphyrin triad (TPP‐PDI‐TPP) were synthesized and characterized. Their structure and properties were studied by UV, FL, ¹H NMR, MS, elemental analysis, etc. The variation of fluorescence feature and UV spectra of TPP‐PDI‐TPP triad were investigated at different concentration of CF₃COOH in THF. The incorporation of CF₃COOH leads to the closure of the efficient charge transfer decay. After protonation of porphyrin units, the fluorescence intensity of TPP‐PDI‐TPP triad increased greatly. The fluorescence intensity of TPP‐PDI‐TPP triad restored after addition of triethylamine into the solution. Thus, TPP‐PDI‐TPP triad was a proton‐type fluorescence switch based on acid‐base control. Moreover, different from porphyrin‐perylene type molecular switches reported before, this TPP‐PDI‐TPP triad has wonderful solubility in organic solvents.     

Single-cell detection of trans-splicing ribozyme in vivo activity

The Tetrahymena trans-splicing ribozyme can edit RNA in a sequence-specific manner, but its efficiency needs to be improved for any functional rescues. This communication describes a simple method that uses a bacterial enzyme beta-lactamase to report trans-splicing activity of Tetrahymena ribozyme in single living mammalian cells by fluorescence microscopy and flow cytometry. This enzyme-based single-cell detection method is highly sensitive and compatible with living cell flow cytometry, and should allow a cell-based systematic screening of a vast library of ribozymes for better trans-spliced ribozyme variants.     

Activity-Based Genetically Encoded Fluorescent and Luminescent Probes for Detecting Formaldehyde in Living Cells

Formaldehyde (FA) is endogenously produced in living systems through a variety of biological processes and has been implicated in many pathological conditions. Detection tools for biological FA are therefore of great interest. Reported here are novel activity-based genetically encoded fluorescent and luminescent probes for detecting FA in aqueous solutions and living mammalian cells. A FA-reactive lysine analogue, PrAK, was site-specifically incorporated into the essential lysine sites of enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) and firefly luciferase (fLuc) to afford fluorescent and luminescent FA probes, respectively. FA selectively reacts with PrAK residues on EGFP and fLuc through a 2-aza-Cope rearrangement, resulting in fluorescence and luminescence turn-on responses, respectively, to FA selectively over potentially interfering reactive species in aqueous buffer. Moreover, the genetically encoded probes are capable of visualizing FA at physiologically relevant levels in living mammalian cells by fluorescence and luminescence imaging, demonstrating their potential as new tools to explore FA biology.     

Activity‐Based Genetically Encoded Fluorescent and Luminescent Probes for Detecting Formaldehyde in Living Cells

Formaldehyde (FA) is endogenously produced in living systems through a variety of biological processes and has been implicated in many pathological conditions. Detection tools for biological FA are therefore of great interest. Reported here are novel activity‐based genetically encoded fluorescent and luminescent probes for detecting FA in aqueous solutions and living mammalian cells. A FA‐reactive lysine analogue, PrAK, was site‐specifically incorporated into the essential lysine sites of enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) and firefly luciferase (fLuc) to afford fluorescent and luminescent FA probes, respectively. FA selectively reacts with PrAK residues on EGFP and fLuc through a 2‐aza‐Cope rearrangement, resulting in fluorescence and luminescence turn‐on responses, respectively, to FA selectively over potentially interfering reactive species in aqueous buffer. Moreover, the genetically encoded probes are capable of visualizing FA at physiologically relevant levels in living mammalian cells by fluorescence and luminescence imaging, demonstrating their potential as new tools to explore FA biology.