Long Shelf Life of a Lyophilized DNA Aptamer Beacon Assay

An aptamer beacon previously developed to detect C-telopeptide (CTx) from human bone collagen breakdown was lyophilized and shown to give a “lights on” concentration-dependent spectral fluorescence response essentially identical to that of the fresh reagent despite storage in a dark dry environment for the past 5.5 years.     

A Novel Screening Method for Competitive FRET-Aptamers Applied to <Emphasis Type="Italic">E. coli</Emphasis> Assay Development

A novel high-throughput screening method is described in which a family of DNA aptamers selected against E. coli outer membrane proteins (OMPs) is subjected to PCR in the presence of fluorophore-dUTP conjugates using Deep Vent® exo- polymerase. The fluorophore-doped aptamers and their complementary strands are then heated to render them single-stranded and screened in filter well microtiter plates for fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) assay potential. Using this system, a superior competitive FRET-aptamer designated EcO 4R was identified and the location of its putative binding pocket was determined by individually testing FRET potential in each of the secondary loop structures. By labeling the binding pocket with Alexa Fluor (AF) 647 and binding the aptamer to heavily Black Hole Quencher-3 (BHQ-3)-labeled E. coli bacteria, detection of as few as 30 live unlabeled E. coli per ml was achieved in a competitive displacement FRET assay format. The far red fluorescence emission enables detection in largely blue-green autofluorescent matrices. In addition, the competitive transfer of AF 647-EcO-4R aptamer to unlabeled E. coli cells after a 15 min equilibration period was verified by fluorescence microscopy. The present study also demonstrated that high aptamer affinity is not well correlated with competitive FRET potential.     

Development of Aptamer Beacons for Rapid Presumptive Detection of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Bacillus</Emphasis> Spores

A library of 92 DNA aptamer sequences was developed against Bacillus anthracis (nonpathogenic Sterne strain) spores and anthrose sugar immobilized on magnetic beads. The selected DNA sequences were studied for similarities and potential binding pockets between the B. anthracis spore and anthrose aptamers. Several recurring loop structures were identified and tested for their potential to act as aptamer beacons when labeled with TYE 665 dye on their 5′ ends and Iowa Black quencher on their 3′ ends. Of these candidate sequences, two beacons designated BAS-6F and BAS-6R emerged which gave strong fluorescence responses at high spore concentrations (greater than 30,000 spores/ml). These aptamer beacons also detect B. cereus and B. thuringiensis spores with greater fluorescence intensity, but do not strongly detect vegetative cells from an array of other bacterial species. BAS-6F and 6R are also not capable of detecting pure anthrose, thereby probably ruling that epitope out as a spore surface target for these particular beacons. While not extremely sensitive, the BAS-6F and 6R aptamer beacons are potentially valuable for rapid presumptive detection of anthrax or Bacillus spores in suspect powders or bioterrorist activity where spore concentrations are anticipated to be high. The sequence similarities of these beacons to other published Bacillus spore aptamers are also discussed.     

A Novel Reconfigurable Optical Biosensor Based on DNA Aptamers and a DNA Molecular Beacon

In order to alter a typical molecular aptamer beacon (MAB) to detect a different analyte there is currently a need to change the whole sensor unit including the expensive labeling fluorophores. In this work a DNA-based reconfigurable molecular aptamer beacon was developed. It is composed of two parts: a variable part and a constant part. The variable part comprises an aptamer strand and its complementary strand while the constant part is an oligonucleotide doubly labeled with a Förster Resonance Energy Transfer (FRET) pair and the two parts become joined via DNA hybridization. The sensor exists in two conformations: a folded (high FRET) and an unfolded (low FRET) in the absence and presence of the aptamer-target binding respectively. This sensor can be reconfigured by washing away the aptamer and the complementary strand using proper complementary strands, called washers. As a proof of the principle, a sensor that bound the enzyme thrombin, an analyte with a strong binding, was first constructed and then reconfigured to bind adenosine, selected as an analyte with a weak binding. We believe that the design is of universal use applicable to many types of aptamers.     

应用荧光光谱法研究植物LEA3蛋白11-氨基酸基序的保护功能

胚胎晚期富集蛋白(late embryogenesis abundant,LEA)是增强生物抵抗干旱、低温和盐渍等多种胁迫的重要功能蛋白,但其保护机理仍不清楚.本文利用紫外光谱法证实,含多拷贝11-氨基酸基序的多肽(如PM2D和PM2E)可较好的保护经冻融的乳酸脱氢酶(LDH)活性.进一步通过荧光光谱法证实,含多拷贝11-氨基酸基序的多肽可通过多位点协同结合模式,稳定LDH酶的结构.而含低拷贝11-氨基酸基序的多肽(如PM2F和PM2G)与LDH酶只有一种结合位点,二者的结合强度较弱,因而不能表现出对LDH酶活性的保护作用.此外,含多拷贝11-氨基酸的多肽与海藻糖在保护LDH酶活性上存在协同作用,且二者有着不同的保护机理.     

Competitive FRET-Aptamer-Based Detection of Methylphosphonic Acid,a Common Nerve Agent Metabolite

Competitive fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET)-aptamer-based assay formats are described for one-step detection of methylphosphonic acid (MPA; a metabolite of several organophosphorus (OP) nerve agents). AminoMPA was attached to tosyl-magnetic beads and used for DNA aptamer selection from which one dominant aptamer sequence emerged. Two different FRET approaches were attempted. In one approach, the complementary DNA sequence was used as a template for labeling the aptamer with Alexa Fluor 546 (AF 546)-14-dUTP by asymmetric PCR. Following 3-dimensional (3-D), molecular modeling of the aptamer-MPA complex, a series of three fluoresceinated aptamers labeled at positions 50, 51, and 52 in the putative optimal binding pocket were synthesized. In both FRET formats, aminoMPA was linked to Black Hole Quencher (BHQ-1 or BHQ-2)-succinimides and allowed to bind the fluorescein or AF 546-labeled MPA aptamer. Following gel filtration to purify the labeled MPA aptamer-BHQ-aminoMPA FRET complexes, the complexes were competed against various concentrations of unlabeled MPA, MPA derivatives, and unrelated compounds in titration and cross-reactivity studies. Both approaches yielded low microgram per milliliter detection limits for MPA with generally low levels of cross-reactivity for unrelated compounds. However, the data suggest a pattern of traits that may effect the direction (lights on or off) and intensity of the FRET.     

Fluorescence Assay Based on Aptamer-Quantum Dot Binding to <Emphasis Type="Italic">Bacillus thuringiensis</Emphasis> Spores

A novel assay was developed for the detection of Bacillus thuringiensis (BT) spores. The assay is based on the fluorescence observed after binding an aptamer-quantum dot conjugate to BT spores. The in vitro selection and amplification technique called SELEX (Systematic Evolution of Ligands by EXponential enrichment) was used in order to identify the DNA aptamer sequence specific for BT. The 60 base aptamer was then coupled to fluorescent zinc sulfide-capped, cadmium selenide quantum dots (QD). The assay is semi-quantitative, specific and can detect BT at concentrations of about 1,000 colony forming units/ml.     

Mechanism of Cellular Uptake to Optimized AuNP Beacon for Tracing mRNA Changes in Living Cells

Molecular beacon is a promising tool for mRNA detection in living cells. But the low detecting efficiency and narrow application range limited its development. In this study, we synthesized a novel gold nanoparticle (AuNP) beacon by optimizing the sequence amount and modified polyethylene glycol (PEG) and cell‐penetrating peptide (CPP) on the gold core. Then, the mechanism of beacon cell uptake was investigated. Lastly, we used the AuNP beacon to study the Akt‐mTOR‐HIF‐1 signaling pathway and the function and mechanism of miR‐7 in breast tumor cells. The results showed that the optimization obviously amplified the fluorescence signal of the AuNP beacon. The mechanism study described the process of AuNP beacon cellular uptake and confirmed amplifying the amount of beacon cellular uptake could obviously enhance the fluorescence signal. Compared to results, the accuracy of the gold nanoparticle beacon is similar to the results of real‐time‐Q‐PCR (RT‐PCR) and western blotting but that the operation is much simpler. Furthermore, in this study, we found that our Akt gold nanoparticle beacon had a similar function to that of the Akt small interfering RNA (siRNA). In summary, the gold nanoparticle beacon may be a promising method for the study of signaling pathways.     

Effects of metal ion binding on an oncomodulin mutant containing a novel calcium-binding loop

The Ca²⁺-binding protein oncomodulin was altered by cassette mutagenesis of the CD site (CDOM33) with a sequence that was derived by a consensus method using over 250 known Ca²⁺-binding loop sequences. This mutant was studied using time-resolved and steady-state fluorescence from the Trp residue included at position 7 of the loop (position 57 of the protein sequence). The fluorescence characteristics of this species in the absence and presence of metal ions were compared to those of a tetradecapeptide containing the loop and the single Trp mutant of oncomodulin, Y57W. The fluorescence properties of CDOM33 were quite different from the peptide, both in the apo form and in response to metal binding. The consensus CD loop in CDOM33 exhibited the characteristics of a Ca²⁺/Mg²⁺ site in contrast to the Ca²⁺ specificity of the wild-type CD loop. The Trp analogue, 5-hydroxytryptophan (5HW), was incorporated into both oncomodulin mutants to produce Y75(5HW) and 5HW-CDOM33. Results showed that this intrinsic probe was relatively insensitive to structural changes in the mutants upon metal binding compared to Trp itself.     

基于裂开型核酸适体非标记荧光法检测ATP

基于裂开型核酸适体序列短、能有效降低因探针形成二级结构产生假阳性信号等优点,选择裂开型核酸适体作为特异性识别探针,核酸染料噻唑橙（TO）为信号探针,用单壁碳纳米管（SWCNTs）降低背景信号,利用“适配体-目标分子-适配体”的“三明治”夹心方式,建立了一种检测ATP的新方法。在pH 8.0的Tris-HCl缓冲溶液中,裂开成两段的ATP适体特异性识别ATP分子,生成稳定的“适配体-ATP-适配体”复合结构。单壁碳纳米管对该复合结构的吸附力较弱,因此该复合物游离在溶液中,TO与其结合而产生强荧光。当不存在ATP时,核酸适体探针以单链状态存在,可通过π-π共轭作用结合到SWCNTs表面,进而不能与TO结合,TO游离在溶液中荧光非常微弱。反应体系中ATP浓度越高,形成的“适配体-ATP-适配体”夹心识别结构复合物越多,检测到的荧光强度越大,据此实现对ATP的检测。在优化实验条件下,在最大荧光发射波长550 nm处,ATP的浓度在9.0×10-9～1.0×10-7 mol·L-1范围内与ΔF/F₀值成线性关系,r=0.996 4。该方法加标回收率为95.2%～104%,相对标准偏差（RSD）为1.02%～4.54%,检出限达到2.67×10-9 mol·L-1。该方法基于功能核酸对目标物亲合力强、选择识别性高的特点,对ATP的检测表现出很好的选择性,实验结果表明,当相对误差控制在±5%以内时,200倍的UTP,GTP和CTP均不干扰ATP的测定。另外,该方法操作简单、快速、无需标记、灵敏准确,可用于血清样品中ATP的测定,在快速检测小分子物质领域中有较好的应用前景。     

基于功能性核酸识别的荧光各向异性分析方法与应用

荧光各向异性方法又称荧光偏振法,基于相互作用的分子结合前后发射光退偏振的不同而实现对相互作用的研究或对目标物的检测。20世纪50年代Gregorio Weber用荧光各向异性法研究了氮磺酰氯与牛血清白蛋白和卵清白蛋白的作用,开启了该方法在生物化学研究中应用的先河。而20世纪90年代开始的功能性核酸(FNAs,包括核酸适配体和核酸酶等)的发现与合成,使基于功能性核酸的传感得到了广泛的应用。核酸适配体能够特异性识别目标分子,基于核酸识别的荧光各向异性分析方法具有高选择性、高灵敏度、高通量等优势,在研究蛋白质、核酸和小分子的相互作用中起到重要作用,然而如何提高结合前后的荧光各向异性信号变化,尤其是小分子识别前后,在基于功能性核酸识别的分析方法发展中是一个挑战。介绍了基于功能性核酸识别的荧光各向异性的方法应用于检测蛋白质、核酸及其他在生命活动中起重要作用的小分子的基本原理及设计理念。     

Plastic-Adherent DNA Aptamer-Magnetic Bead and Quantum Dot Sandwich Assay for Campylobacter Detection

DNA aptamers were developed against MgCl₂-extracted surface proteins from Campylobacter jejuni. The two highest affinity aptamers were selected for use in a magnetic bead (MB) and red quantum dot (QD)-based sandwich assay scheme. The assay was evaluated using both heat-killed and live C. jejuni and exhibits detection limits as low as an average of 2.5 colony forming unit (cfu) equivalents in buffer and 10–250 cfu in various food matrices. The assay exhibits low cross-reactivity with bacterial species outside the Campylobacter genus, but exhibits substantial cross-reactivity with C. coli and C. lari. The assay was evaluated with a spectrofluorometer and a commercially available handheld fluorometer, which yielded comparable detection limits and ranges. Remarkably, the sandwich assay components adhere to the inside face of polystyrene cuvettes even in food matrices near neutral pH, thereby enabling a rapid homogeneous assay, because fluorescence is concentrated to a small, thin planar area and background fluorescence from the bulk solution is minimized. The plastic cuvette-adherent technology coupled to a sensitive handheld fluorometer may enable rapid (15–20 min), portable detection of foodborne pathogens from “farm-to-fork” by obviating the slow enrichment culture phase used by other food safety tests.     

Interaction of human serum albumin with N-(4-ethoxyphenyl)-N′-(4-antipyrinyl) thiourea using spectroscopies and molecular modeling method

The interaction between N-(4-ethoxyphenyl)-N′-(4-antipyrinyl) thiourea (EPAT) and human serum albumin (HSA) was studied by fluorescence spectroscopy in combination with UV absorption spectroscopy. The intrinsic fluorescence of human serum albumin was quenched by EPAT through a static quenching procedure. The binding constants of EPAT with HSA were estimated according to the fluorescence quenching results at different temperatures. The binding distance was obtained and the binding force was suggested to be mainly hydrophobic force, which was in accordance with the study of molecular model. The effect of common ions on the binding constants was also investigated. A new fluorescence spectroscopy assay of the proteins is presented, and results were very satisfactory.     

两种肉桂酸肟酯衍生物的合成及其与人血清白蛋白的结合

以间甲氧基肉桂酸、对位取代的苯甲醛为原料,设计合成了2种未见报道的肉桂酸肟酯类衍生物,并用MS、IR、1H NMR、13C NMR进行结构表征。采用分子对接技术和荧光光谱法、紫外-可见光谱法、位点竞争法研究了2种衍生物分别和人血清白蛋白(HSA)相结合的机理。通过Stern-Volmer方程等处理荧光猝灭相关数据得到了衍生物与HSA相互作用的结合常数和热力学参数。结合紫外-可见光谱对两种衍生物与HSA的相互作用进行了进一步的分析,结果表明在体外生理条件下,衍生物都可以与HSA结合,对HSA内源荧光产生静态猝灭并对其构象产生影响,其主要的结合力为氢键和范德华力。位点竞争实验表明衍生物与HSA相互作用都发生在Sudlow site 1(亚域ⅡA)处。以上实验结果均验证了分子模拟对实验的预测。     

Selection of a histidine-containing inhibitor of gelatinases through deconvolution of combinatorial tetrapeptide libraries

Summary A fully automated peptide synthesizer was used to generate tetrapeptide sublibraries from 24 natural and nonnatural amino acids, from which new inhibitors of gelatinases (matrix metalloproteinases MMP-2 and MMP-9) were selected as potential anticancer drugs. MMP-2 and MMP-9 from mouse Balbc/3T3 fibroblasts conditioned media were assayed in their linear range response by zymography to quantify inhibition at each step of the tetrapeptide library deconvolution. The histidine--amino caproic acid-alanine-histidine (His-Ahx-Ala-His) sequence was found to yield optimal inhibition of both MMP-2 and MMP-9. Inhibition by selected tetrapeptides was also evaluated with two other techniques, a native type IV collagen degradation assay and a fluorogenic enzymatic assay, confirming the tetrapeptide potency. The His-Ahx-Ala-His tetrapeptide also inhibited purified human MMP-2 and MMP-9 and the corresponding enzymes present in conditioned media from human tumour cells. Finally, the length of the spacer between the two terminal histidines was found to be crucial to the inhibitory potential. This approach may thus be considered as a successful strategy to yield specific peptide or pseudopeptide inhibitors, although their potency remains moderate, since it was measured before any chemical optimization was undertaken.Abbreviations AA amino acid - Ahx -amino caproic acid - APMA 4-aminophenylmercuric acetate - DNP 2,4-dinitrophenyl - ECM extracellular matrix - MMP matrix metalloproteinase - Nma N-methylanthranilic acid - Nip para-nitrophenylalanine - TIMP tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase - Z benzyloxycarbonyl     

过硒二苯2,2'-二甲酸与牛血清白蛋白结合反应热力学特征研究

用荧光光谱和紫外．可见吸收光谱法研究了在不同温度下,新合成的过硒二苯2,2’-二甲酸（PSD）对牛血清白蛋白（BSA）作用的荧光猝灭光谱行为。分别用Stem-Volmer方程和Lineweaver-Burk双倒数方程处理试验数据,证实在试验浓度和温度范围内,其荧光猝灭作用更符合静态猝灭作用特征,PSD与BSA可反应并结合形成具有一定结构的复合物,得到了反应的结合常量、结合热力学性质和结合位点等参数;同时探讨了静态猝灭作用的机理和结合力的性质,为了解PSD与BSA的结合方式、在人体内的传输机理和药理作用提供科学依据。     

Single-Pair Fluorescence Resonance Energy Transfer (spFRET) for the High Sensitivity Analysis of Low-Abundance Proteins Using Aptamers as Molecular Recognition Elements

We have developed a strategy for the detection of single protein molecules, which uses single-pair fluorescence resonance energy transfer (spFRET) as the readout modality and provides exquisite analytical sensitivity and reduced assay turn-around-time by eliminating various sample pre-processing steps. The single-protein detection assay uses two independent aptamer recognition events to form an assembly conducive to intramolecular hybridization of oligonucleotide complements that are tethered to the aptamers. This hybridization brings a donor-acceptor pair within the Förster distance to create a fluorescence signature indicative of the presence of the protein-aptamer(s) association complex. As an example of spFRET, we demonstrate the technique for the analysis of serum thrombin. The assay requires co-association of two distinct epitope-binding aptamers, each of which is labeled with a donor or acceptor fluorescent dye (Cy3 or Cy5, respectively) to produce a FRET response. The FRET response between Cy3 and Cy5 was monitored by single-molecule photon-burst detection, which provides high analytical sensitivity when the number of single-molecule events is plotted versus the target concentration. We are able to identify thrombin with high efficiency based on photon burst events transduced in the Cy5 detection channel. We also demonstrate that the technique can discriminate thrombin molecules from its analogue prothrombin. The analytical sensitivity was >200-fold better than an ensemble measurement.     

On the use of tryptophan to detect slow orientational motions

For our investigations on orientational motions of membrane proteins with the method of time-resolved fluorescence anisotropy decay (TRFA), we first wanted to test the use of tryptophan fluorescence in detecting slow motions on the time scale of tens of nanoseconds and to get more insight into the possible motions of membrane proteins by investigating a simple system. We performed TRFA measurements on a short α-helical 21-amino acid peptide in different environments (Vogel, H.,et al. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 85, 5067–5071, 1988). In each case, we got three relexation time constants. The longest of these depends strongly on changes in the environment, whereas the two shorter times show only weak dependencies. So we conclude that the longest time belongs to the rotational diffusion of the entire peptide and the other to internal motions.     

荧光猝灭法对肉桂酸与人血清白蛋白间的相互作用的研究

白蛋白是血液循环系统中最丰富的一种蛋白质,能与许多物质结合,并起着运输蛋白的作用。文章利用荧光光谱法研究了中药有效成分肉桂酸与人血清蛋白间的非共价结合特性。研究表明,在pH7.4作用液、286nm激发波长条件下,肉桂酸对人血清白蛋白的荧光发射有较强猝灭作用。当作用温度为37和47℃时,肉桂酸与人血清蛋白间的结合常数K分别为1.2767×103和3.4041×103L.mol-1,结合位点数n分别为0.7586和0.8356,表明温度升高有利于两者的结合;同时,根据不同作用温度时非共价结合复合物的热力学参数变化,证明肉桂酸与人血清白蛋白分子间的结合力主要是疏水作用。研究结果为进一步研究肉桂酸的药理作用,尤其是对血浆蛋白构像的影响提供了重要信息。