基于阳离子型共轭聚合物与酶底物探针的磷酸酯酶检测新方法

建立了一种基于阳离子型共轭聚合物与酶底物探针的磷酸酯酶检测新方法. 阳离子型共轭聚合物通过静电吸引与荧光素修饰的带负电荷的三磷酸腺苷结合, 并发生荧光能量共振转移; 当加入磷酸酯酶时, 它可以催化底物三磷酸腺苷上的磷酸酯基团逐渐水解, 得到不带电荷的腺苷, 从而使阳离子型共轭聚合物得以释放, 能量转移效率下降. 实验结果表明, 能量转移效率下降的程度与酶的浓度相关. 该方法操作简单, 响应速度快, 灵敏度高, 易于扩展至其它能催化底物电荷密度变化的酶的检测, 而且还有望应用于对酶具有抑制作用的药物分子的筛选.     

基于阳离子荧光共轭聚合物和核酸适体探针的蛋白质检测新方法

以核酸适体为识别分子, 阳离子荧光共轭聚合物为报告分子, 建立了一种蛋白质检测新方法. 修饰有荧光熄灭基团的核酸适体探针通过静电作用与阳离子荧光共轭聚合物结合, 导致后者荧光熄灭. 当加入靶蛋白后, 核酸适体探针与其特异性结合, 荧光熄灭基团与阳离子荧光共轭聚合物远离, 聚合物荧光信号得以恢复. 实验结果表明, 荧光恢复程度与靶蛋白的浓度正相关. 采用该方法检测凝血酶的线性范围为17～40 nmol/L.     

无标记型核酸适体荧光传感器检测氯霉素的含量

建立了DNA核酸适体检测氯霉素的荧光分析新方法。将前人筛选得到的80bp的氯霉素DNA核酸适体截短至40bp,实验发现截短并不影响核酸适体与氯霉素的结合能力。40bp的DNA核酸适体与另一条互补DNA链形成双链DNA,SYBR Green I荧光染料能插入双链并有强荧光发射,加入氯霉素后,氯霉素能和DNA核酸适体形成稳定的复合物,诱导DNA双链打开,SYBR Green I释放,荧光降低。实验结果显示:在10~200μmol/L范围内,荧光降低百分数和氯霉素之间有良好线性关系,检测限为6μmol/L。     

基于水溶性共轭聚合物分子刷的高灵敏凝血酶生物传感器

以刷子状水溶性共轭聚芴（PFNI）为传感材料,以荧光素标记的核酸适体（FAM-apt15）为探针,设计了一种检测凝血酶的高灵敏度蛋白质传感器. PFNI的刷状结构带有大量正电荷,与负电荷的柔性单链核酸探针形成静电复合物,使能量供体（PFNI）与受体（FAM）之间的距离较近,发生高效荧光共振能量转移（Föster resonance energy transfer,FRET）. 当探针与靶凝血酶结合时,形成刚性且体积较大的G-四链体/凝血酶复合物,由于体积位阻和密集的刷子的阻碍作用,PFNI与FAM之间的距离被拉大,FRET效率显著降低. 对缓冲溶液中凝血酶检测的最低检测限可达0.05 nmol/L. 与基于线型共轭聚合物的蛋白质检测方法相比,灵敏度提高了至少一个数量级.     

基于共轭聚合物的核酸生物传感器的应用

共轭聚合物的π电子体系及共轭离域结构,使其具有良好的发光性能。聚合物链可充当“分子导线”,能够成倍放大光学信号,从而有效提高检测灵敏度。而核酸适体(aptamer)在特异性、与靶物质亲合力、信号传导方面比其他识别元件具有更大的优势,因此共轭聚合物的核酸生物传感器在生物检测方面得到了迅速发展。本文主要总结了近年来共轭聚合物的核酸生物传感器在生物检测方面的应用,并进一步对该类型传感器的发展趋势作出了展望。     

单分子荧光成像研究凝血酶核酸适体的折叠

通过对固定在表面的TMR标记凝血酶核酸适体进行单分子荧光成像, 在单分子水平上研究了凝血酶核酸适体的折叠. 在有K+存在的条件下, 核酸适体分子与K+结合后发生折叠, 形成G四分体结构, 使得TMR靠近富含鸟嘌呤的G四分体, 并与鸟嘌呤发生电子转移, 从而导致TMR荧光强度降低. 根据TMR的单分子荧光强度观察到不同K+浓度下核酸适体在折叠和无规卷曲两种状态下的分布. 结果表明, 可利用电子转移引起的荧光强度变化在单分子水平上研究核酸适体构象变化, 这一新方法的建立是对常用的单分子荧光共振能量转移(FRET)法的重要补充.     

基于核酸适体检测ATP的酶联分析新方法

基于核酸适体对靶标的特异性识别和辣根过氧化物酶(HRP)的高效催化反应, 发展了一种用于检测三磷酸腺苷(ATP)的酶联核酸适体分析新方法. 核酸适体和靶标的特异性结合导致与核酸适体杂交的短链DNA解链, 解离的DNA通过杂交被固定在另一酶标板的DNA捕获. 解离的DNA预先标记了异硫氰酸荧光素(FITC)基团, FITC特异性结合HRP标记的FITC抗体, HRP作为信号传导元素催化四甲基二苯胺(TMB)底物显色, 通过颜色变化及450 nm波长处吸光度的变化检测ATP. 该方法对ATP具有良好的选择性, 检测不受其它物质如GTP, UTP和CTP的干扰, 且检测能在较复杂的试样(体积分数10%和50%的血清)中进行. 实验结果表明, 在ATP浓度为50~400 nmol/L范围内, 具有良好的线性关系, 检出限为26 nmol/L.     

基于核酸适体电化学生物传感器用于腺苷的免标记检测

以纳米MnO2作为适体固定的构建平台,制备了一种基于核酸适体的新型腺苷电化学生物传感器.固定于电极表面的适体探针与目标腺苷杂交后使电极界面的结构发生改变,通过[Fe(CN)6]3-/4-氧化还原探针监测传感器表面电子传递电阻的变化,以此作为检测信号进行腺苷的免标记检测.表面电子传递电阻的变化值与腺苷浓度的对数在1.0×...     

阳离子荧光共轭聚合物结合纳米颗粒用于DNA检测

利用纳米颗粒对目标DNA的富集、分离作用以及阳离子荧光共轭聚合物良好的荧光特性,建立了一种特异性检测DNA的新方法.首先将标记有猝灭基团的DNA捕获探针修饰到纳米颗粒上,捕获互补的DNA分子;然后加入S1核酸酶,除去未捕获到互补DNA的捕获探针;最后用Dnase Ⅰ将颗粒上的双链切断,使猝灭基团从纳米颗粒上解离下来,与阳离子荧光共轭聚合物结合并猝灭其荧光.结果表明,目标核酸的浓度与该聚合物的荧光猝灭程度正相关,且具有良好的特异性,线性响应范围为5.0～40 nmol/L; 检出限为3.7 nmol/L(S/N=3).     

双链荧光核酸适体探针用于蛋白质的简便快速检测

发展了一种基于双链荧光核酸适体(F-Aptamer)探针的简单快速检测蛋白质的分析方法.该双链荧光Aptamer探针由一条带荧光标记的Aptamer探针和带猝灭标记的互补DNA组成,当靶蛋白存在时,能形成比双链荧光Aptamer探针更稳定的F-Aptamer/蛋白质复合物,并发出荧光,从而实现对蛋白质的简便快速检测,检测线性范围为6~100 nmol/L,检出限为6 nmol/L.该方法设计简单,对核酸适体分子的大小和空间结构没有要求,可作为一种通用的基于F-Aptamer识别机理的蛋白质检测方法.     

Fluorescent amplifying recognition for DNA G-quadruplex folding with a cationic conjugated polymer: a platform for homogeneous potassium detection

Single-stranded DNA with G-rich sequences can fold into secondary structures, G-quadruplexes, via intramolecular hydrogen-bonding interactions. This conformational change can be detected by a homogeneous assay method based on fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) from a water-soluble cationic conjugated polymer (CCP) to a fluorescein chromophore labeled at the terminus of the G-quadruplex DNA. The space charge density around the DNA controls the efficiency of FRET from the CCP to the fluorescein. The higher FRET efficiency for the CCP/G-quadruplex pair is correlated to the stronger electrostatic interactions between the more condensed G-quadruplex and the CCP in comparison to the CCP/ssDNA pair. Since the potassium ion can specifically bind to the G-quadruplex DNA, the G-quartet-DNA/CCPs assembly can also be used as a platform to sense the potassium ion in water with high selectivity and sensitivity.     

Gold nanoparticle-based homogeneous fluorescent aptasensor for multiplex detection

We developed a homogeneous fluorescence assay for multiplex detection based on the target induced conformational change of DNA aptamers. DNA aptamers were immobilized on quantum dots (QDs), and QDs conjugated ssDNA was adsorbed on the surface of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) by electrostatic interaction between uncoiled ssDNA and the AuNPs. Subsequently the fluorescence of QDs was effectively quenched by the AuNPs due to fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) of QDs to AuNPs. In the presence of targets, the QDs conjugated aptamers were detached from AuNPs by target induced conformational change of aptamers, consequently the fluorescence of the QDs was recovered proportional to the target concentration. In this study, three different QD/aptamer conjugates were used for multiplex detection of mercury ions, adenosine and potassium ions. In a control experiment, all of the three targets were simultaneously detected with high selectivity.     

A fluorescence aptasensor based on DNA charge transport for sensitive protein detection in serum

A novel fluorescence aptasensor based on DNA charge transport for sensitive protein detection has been developed. A 15nt DNA aptamer against thrombin was used as a model system. The aptamer was integrated into a double strand DNA (dsDNA) that was labeled with a hole injector, naphthalimide (NI), and a fluorophore, Alexa532, at its two ends. After irradiation by UV light, the fluorescence of Alexa532 was bleached due to the oxidization of Alexa532 by the positive charge transported from naphthalimide through the dsDNA. In the presence of thrombin, the binding of thrombin to the aptamer resulted in the unwinding of the dsDNA into ssDNA, which led to the blocking of charge transfer and the strong fluorescence emission of Alexa532. By monitoring the fluorescence signal change, we were able to detect thrombin in homogeneous solutions with high selectivity and high sensitivity down to 1.2 pM. Moreover, as DNA charge transfer is resistant to interferences from biological contexts, the aptasensor can be used directly in undiluted serum with similar sensitivity as that in buffer. This new sensing strategy is expected to promote the exploitation of aptamer-based biosensors for protein assays in complex biological matrixes.     

水溶性碳纳米粒子的制备及其在DNA和单核苷酸多态性分析中的应用

利用电化学氧化的方法制备了水溶性好、粒径为7～12nm的碳纳米粒子,该碳纳米粒子通过π-π相互作用吸附荧光标记的单链DNA探针,并能有效地猝灭其荧光．当单链DNA探针与匹配的DNA目标分子杂交形成双链DNA时,猝灭的荧光被恢复,由此可以检测1-200nmol／L的DNA目标分子。此外,在碳纳米粒子存在时,由荧光标记的DNA探针和DNA目标分子形成的双链DNA的熔解温度可以简便地被测定,当双链DNA有错配碱基时,其熔解温度降低,由此可方便、快速地分析单核苷酸多态性．     

PNA/dsDNA complexes: site specific binding and dsDNA biosensor applications

The ability of peptide nucleic acids (PNA) to form specific higher-order (i.e., three- and four-stranded) complexes with DNA makes it an ideal structural probe for designing strand-specific dsDNA biosensors. Higher-order complexes are formed between a dye-labeled charge-neutral PNA probe and complementary dsDNA. Addition of a light-harvesting cationic conjugated polymer (CCP) yields supramolecular structures held together by electrostatic forces that incorporate the CCP and the dye-labeled PNA/DNA complexes. Optimization of optical properties allows for excitation of the CCP and subsequent fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) to the PNA-bound dye. In the case of noncomplementary dsDNA, complexation between the probe and target does not occur, and dye emission is weak. The binding between PNA and noncomplementary and complementary dsDNA was examined by several methods. Gel electrophoresis confirms specificity of binding and the formation of higher-order complexes. Nano-electrospray mass spectrometry gives insight into the stoichiometric composition, including PNA/DNA, PNA(2)/DNA, PNA/DNA(2), and PNA(2)/DNA(2) complexes. Finally, structural characteristics and binding-site specificity were examined using ion mobility mass spectrometry in conjunction with molecular dynamics. These results give possible conformations for each of the higher-order complexes formed and show exclusive binding of PNA to the complementary stretch of DNA for all PNA/DNA complexes. Overall, the capability and specificity of binding indicates that the CCP/PNA assay is a feasible detection method for dsDNA and eliminates the need for thermal denaturing steps typically required for DNA hybridization probe assays.     

聚集诱导发光分子/适配体/外切酶Ⅰ体系对可卡因的检测

目前非法药物的滥用已经成为全球性的公共安全卫生问题之一[1~3].其中可卡因作为一种全球禁用的非法药物,长期滥用会对人体造成许多不良的影响,如精神疾病、失眠、抑郁和暴力倾向等,甚至威胁生命,同时,吸食可卡因还会导致出现各种社会问题[4,5].因此实现对可卡因的快速检测成为打击毒品犯罪、维护社会稳定的关键.目前对于可卡因的检测主要采用气相色谱/质谱(GC/MS)和液相色谱/质谱(LC/MS)等大型仪器.虽然能够实现对可卡因检测,但大多需要专业人员操作且耗时较长,因此开发一种简便、高效且可靠的可卡因检测方法成为研究的热点[6~8].其中,基于荧光探针的检测手段由于具有高效、灵敏及便捷等优势而备受关注,但传统的荧光探针面临聚集导致发光猝灭(ACQ)的难题[9,10],即这类分子在溶液中发光非常强,一旦聚集或在固体中发光显著减弱,非常不利于实际应用.     

Tethered thiazole orange intercalating dye for development of fibre-optic nucleic acid biosensors

Single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) oligonucleotide in solution, or that is immobilized onto a surface to create a biosensor, can be used as a selective probe to bind to a complementary single-stranded sequence. Fluorescence enhancement of thiazole orange (TO) occurs when the dye intercalates into double-stranded DNA (dsDNA). TO dye has been covalently attached to probe oligonucleotides (homopolymer and mixed base 10mer and 20mer) through the 5′ terminal phosphate group using polyethylene glycol linker. The tethered TO dye was able to intercalate when dsDNA formed in solution, and also at fused silica surfaces using immobilized ssDNA. The results indicated the potential for development of a self-contained biosensor where the fluorescent label was available as part of the immobilized oligonucleotide probe chemistry. The approach was shown to be able to operate in a reversible manner for multiple cycles of detection of targeted DNA sequences.     

Single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) production in DNA aptamer generation

The discovery that synthetic short chain nucleic acids are capable of selective binding to biological targets has made them to be widely used as molecular recognition elements. These nucleic acids, called aptamers, are comprised of two types, DNA and RNA aptamers, where the DNA aptamer is preferred over the latter due to its stability, making it widely used in a number of applications. However, the success of the DNA selection process through Systematic Evolution of Ligands by Exponential Enrichment (SELEX) experiments is very much dependent on its most critical step, which is the conversion of the dsDNA to ssDNA. There is a plethora of methods available in generating ssDNA from the corresponding dsDNA. These include asymmetric PCR, biotin-streptavidin separation, lambda exonuclease digestion and size separation on denaturing-urea PAGE. Herein, different methods of ssDNA generation following the PCR amplification step in SELEX are reviewed.