Imaging of RNA in bacteria with self-ligating quenched probes

We report on the application of a new class of oligonucleotide reporter probes, QUAL probes, that "light up" when a nucleophilic phosphorothioate probe binds adjacent to a dabsyl-quenched probe. These self-ligating DNA probes were used for sequence-specific detection of 16S rRNA in Escherichia coli cells. Strong fluorescence was observed only when the phosphorothioate and quenched dabsyl probes bind side-by-side on a 16S rRNA target. The results demonstrate the use of QUAL probes to detect specific RNA sequences in bacterial cells without enzymes and without washing steps.     

Quencher as leaving group: efficient detection of DNA-joining reactions

We describe a new fluorescence reporting strategy in which dabsyl, a well-known quencher, activates a hydroxyl group in a probe to convert it to a leaving group. When a nucleophilic phosphorothioate probe binds adjacent to a dabsyl quenched probe, autoligation occurs, releasing the quencher, and lighting up the probes, This signal change can be used to detect single nucleotide differences in DNA without enzymes or reagents.     

An easily-automated assay for the physiological state quantification of Pseudomonas sp. M18

In order to foreknow poorly performing cultures before wasting energy to scale them to large cultures, industrial microbial fermentation can greatly benefit from knowledge of the physiological state of cells. The method currently proposed is an easily automated physiological state determination method. We have designed one universal rRNA-specific probe for bacteria and developed novel signal probe hybridization (SPH) assay featuring no RNA extraction and no PCR amplification steps necessary to quantify the physiological state of microbial cells. The microbial cell was lysed with sonication and SDS. Signal probes were applied to hybridize and protect the rRNA target. S1 nuclease was then applied to remove the excessive signal probes, the single-stranded RNA and the mismatch RNA/DNA hybrids. The remaining signal probe was captured with a corresponding capture probe immobilized on a microplate and quantified with a horseradish peroxidase-conjugated color reaction. We then systemically optimized our assay. Results showed that the cell limit of detection (LOD) and the cell limit of quantification (LOQ) were 2.64 × 10⁴ cells and 9.86 × 10⁴ cells per well of microplate, respectively. The limit of detection (LOD) and the limit of quantification (LOQ) of signal probe were 49.0 fM and 344.0 fM respectively. Using this technique, we quantified the 16S rRNA levels during the fermentation process of Pseudomonas sp. M18. Our results indicate that the 16S rRNA levels can directly inform us about the physiological state of microbial cells. This technique has great potential for application to the microbial fermentation industry.     

Fabrication of DNA microarrays on nanoengineered polymeric ultrathin film prepared by self-assembly of polyelectrolyte multilayers

Microarray-based technology is in need of flexible and cost-effective chemistry for fabrication of oligonucleotide microarrays. We have developed a novel method for the fabrication of oligonucleotide microarrays with unmodified oligonucleotide probes on nanoengineered three-dimensional thin films that are deposited on glass slides by consecutive layer-to-layer adsorption of polyelectrolytes. Unmodified oligonucleotide probes were spotted and immobilized on these multilayered polyelectrolyte thin films (PET) by electrostatic adsorption and entrapment on the porous structure of the PET film. The PET provides higher probe binding capacity and thus higher hybridization signal than that of the traditional two-dimensional aminosilane and poly-L-lysine coated slides. Immobilized probe densities of 3.4 x 10(12)/cm2 were observed for microarray spots on PET with unmodified 50-mer oligonucleotide probes, which is comparable to the immobilized probe densities of alkyamine-modified 50-mer probes end-tethered on an aldehyde-functionalized slide. The study of hybridization efficiency showed that 90% of immobilized probes on PET film are accessible to target DNA to form duplex format in hybridization. The DNA microarray fabricated on PET film has wider dynamic range (about 3 orders of magnitude) and lower detection limit (0.5 nM) than the conventional amino- and aldehyde-functionalized slides. Oligonucleotide microarrays fabricated on these PET-coated slides also had consistent spot morphology. In addition, discrimination of single nucleotide polymorphism of 16S rRNA genes was achieved with the PET-based oligonucleotide microarrays. The PET microarrays constructed by our self-assembly process is cost-effective, versatile, and well suited for immobilizing many types of biological active molecules so that a wide variety of microarray formats can be developed.     

Molecular beacon-metal nanowire interface: effect of probe sequence and surface coverage on sensor performance

We report the effect of surface coverage and sequence on the performance of 5' thiolated, 3' fluorophore-labeled DNA hairpin probes bound to Au/Ag striped ("barcoded") metal nanowires. Coverage was controlled by varying probe concentration, buffer ionic strength, and by addition of short hydroxy-terminated alkanethiol diluent molecules during probe assembly onto the nanowire surface. Surface dilution of the surface-bound probes with a omega-hydroxyl alkanethiol, a commonly accepted practice in the surface-bound DNA literature, did not appreciably improve sensor performance as compared to similar probe coverages without hydroxyalkanethiol diluents; this finding underscores the differences between the molecular beacon probes used here and more traditional nonfluorescent, random coil probes. We found that intermediate probe coverage of approximately 10 (12) molecules/cm (2) gave the best discrimination between presence and absence of a target sequence. Because we are interested in multiplexed assays, we also compared several beacon probe sequences having different stabilities for secondary structure formation in solution; we found that both probe surface coverage and sensor performance varied for different probe sequences. When five different molecular beacon probes, each bound to barcoded nanowires, were used in a multiplexed, wash-free assay for target oligonucleotides corresponding to viral nucleic acid sequences, these differences in probe performance did not prevent accurate target identification. We anticipate that the findings described here will also be relevant to other applications involving molecular beacons or other structured nucleic acid probes immobilized on metal surfaces.     

A Peptide Nucleic Acid (PNA) Heteroduplex Probe Containing an Inosine–Cytosine Base Pair Discriminates a Single‐Nucleotide Difference in RNA

Selective discrimination of a single‐nucleotide difference in single‐stranded DNA or RNA remains a challenge with conventional DNA or RNA probes. A peptide nucleic acid (PNA)‐derived probe, in which PNA forms a pseudocomplementary heteroduplex with inosine‐containing DNA or RNA, effectively discriminates a single‐nucleotide difference in a closely related group of sequences of single‐stranded DNA and/or RNA. The pseudocomplementary PNA heteroduplex is easily converted to a fluorescent probe that distinctively detects a member of highly homologous let‐7 microRNAs.     

Droplet microfluidics for amplification-free genetic detection of single cells

In this article we present a novel droplet microfluidic chip enabling amplification-free detection of single pathogenic cells. The device streamlines multiple functionalities to carry out sample digitization, cell lysis, probe-target hybridization for subsequent fluorescent detection. A peptide nucleic acid fluorescence resonance energy transfer probe (PNA beacon) is used to detect 16S rRNA present in pathogenic cells. Initially the sensitivity and quantification abilities of the platform are tested using a synthetic target mimicking the actual expression level of 16S rRNA in single cells. The capability of the device to perform "sample-to-answer" pathogen detection of single cells is demonstrated using E. coli as a model pathogen.     

Ru(Ⅲ)、Rh(Ⅲ)、Pd(Ⅱ)离子与ct-DNA的相互作用研究

本文以中药小檗碱作为分子探针，在0.01mol·L^-1醋酸-醋酸钠缓冲体系中，用紫外-可见吸收及荧光光谱法研究了Ru(Ⅲ)、Rh(Ⅲ)、Pd(Ⅱ)三种贵金属离子与DNA的键合相互作用。实验发现Ru(Ⅲ)离子对小檗碱-DNA二元体系的荧光有较强的猝灭作用;而Rh(Ⅲ)、Pd(Ⅱ)两种离子则对该二元体系产生显著的荧光敏化作用。考察了EDTA对贵金属离子、小檗碱及DNA三元混合体系的荧光光谱的影响，初步探讨了贵金属离子与DNA可能的键合机理。     

Label-free detection of polynucleotide single-base mismatch via pyrene probe excimer emission

The pyrene probe and pyrene-labeled oligonucleotides (ODNs) probe are expected to be candidates as fluorescent probe for DNA assay. In particular, label-free detection is a very hot because of its simpleness, speediness and cheapness. Herein, we have investigated the use of a pyrenylakylammonium salt, a novel fluorescent probe for the detection of one single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) in double stranded DNA. After S1 nuclease digestion, the pyrene probes bind electrostatically to the perfect complement DNA and emit a strong excimer emission. However, treatment of the non-complementary DNA with S1 nuclease caused nucleotide fragments of less than 5 bases, which could not induce excimer emission. By comparing ratio of excimer to monomer fluorescence between normal and mutant DNA after S1 nuclease digestion, One-base mutation in DNA was detected easily. This new method may be applied to the detection of SNP.     

Locked TASC probes for homogeneous sensing of nucleic acids and imaging of fixed E. coli cells

We have designed a second-generation TASC (target-assisted self-cleavage) probe. It is based on the switching-on of incorporated cis-acting DNAzyme activity upon the target-induced conformational change of the otherwise inactive off-target probes locked in an intrastrand base-paired hairpin geometry. With E. coli 16S ribosomal RNA-relevant oligonucleotides as targets, the locked TASC probe exhibits an allosteric factor of k(on)/k(off) = 65 and the sequence selectivity is high, in terms of single nucleotide difference, when particular sequence and length of targets are chosen. Preliminary experiments with fixed E. coli cells show that the locked TASC probe with a FRET pair can be used to image fixed E. coli cells.     

A double-stranded molecular probe for homogeneous nucleic acid analysis

This paper reports the design and optimization of a double-stranded molecular probe for homogeneous detection of specific nucleotide sequences. The probes are labeled with either a fluorophore or a quencher such that the probe hybridization brings the two labels into close proximity, and this diminishes the fluorescence signal in the absence of a target. In the presence of a target, the fluorophore probe is thermodynamically driven to unzip from its hybridized form and bind with the target. An equilibrium analysis, which successfully describes all the major features of the assay without any fitting parameter, is performed to generalize the design of the probe. Several key parameters affecting the performance of the assay are examined. We show that the dynamic range and the signal-to-noise ratio of the assay can be optimized by the probe concentration, the quencher-to-fluorophore ratio, and the probe strand sequence. By proper design of the sequence, the probe discriminates single nucleotide mismatches in a single step without any separation step or measurement of melting profile.     

Electrochemical signal modulation in homogeneous solutions using the formation of an inclusion complex between ferrocene and β-cyclodextrin on a DNA scaffold

Two DNA conjugates modified with ferrocene and β-cyclodextrin were prepared as a pair of probes that work cooperatively for DNA sensing, in which the electrochemical signal of ferrocene on one probe was significantly "quenched" by the formation of an inclusion complex with β-cyclodextrin of the other probe on the DNA templates.     

Electric potential induced dissociation of hybridized DNA with hairpin motif immobilized on silicon surface

DNA probes were immobilized on silicon surfaces through ester condensation between the -COOH group on the surface and the terminal -OH group in the oligonucleotide, and the surface density of DNA probes against the concentration of immobilization solution was measured by radioactive labeling. The dissociation of DNA duplex on the surface by an electric potential was studied with the scanning potential hairpin denaturation/dissociation (SPHD). The influence of the stem length in the hairpin probe on the SPHD curve was systematically investigated. It was found that the capability of discrimination on single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) by a hairpin probe was related to the free energy of formation of the secondary structure in the probe (DeltaG(ss)). In our system, when DeltaG(ss) was around -3 kcal/mol, an optimal recognition of SNP was reached and the SPHD curve was sigmoid. In contrast, the equivalent SPHD curve from a linear probe was exponential-decay alike with a poor discrimination of SNP. The concentration dependent experiments showed good linearity between the melting potential and logarithm of target concentration in the range of 1 x 10(-9) to 5 x 10(-7) M.     

Investigation of the hybrid molecular probe for intracellular studies

Monitoring gene expression in vivo is essential to the advancement of biological studies, medical diagnostics, and drug discovery. Adding to major efforts in developing molecular probes for mRNA monitoring, we have recently developed an alternative tool, the hybrid molecular probe (HMP). To optimize the probe, a series of experiments were performed to study the properties of HMP hybridization kinetics and stability. The results demonstrated the potential of the HMP as a prospective tool for use in both hybridization studies and in vitro and in vivo analyses. The HMP has shown no tendency to produce false positive signals, which is a major concern for living cell studies. Moreover, HMP has shown the ability to detect the mRNA expression of different genes inside single cells from both basal and stimulated genes. As an effective alternative to conventional molecular probes, the proven sensitivity, simplicity, and stability of HMPs show promise for their use in monitoring mRNA expression in living cells. Figure Hybrid molecular probe (HMP). HMPs consist of two single strands of DNA (green) and a polyethylene glycol (PEG, purple) linker that is used to tether these two sequences together. When a target (orange strand) containing the complementary sequences to both probes at adjacent positions is added, each strand binds to its corresponding target sequence, thus bringing the two fluorophores into close proximity, which allows energy transfer to occur     

Target recycling amplification for label-free and sensitive colorimetric detection of adenosine triphosphate based on un-modified aptamers and DNAzymes

Based on target recycling amplification, the development of a new label-free, simple and sensitive colorimetric detection method for ATP by using un-modified aptamers and DNAzymes is described. The association of the model target molecules (ATP) with the corresponding aptamers of the dsDNA probes leads to the release of the G-quadruplex sequences. The ATP-bound aptamers can be further degraded by Exonuclease III to release ATP, which can again bind the aptamers of the dsDNA probes to initiate the target recycling amplification process. Due to this target recycling amplification, the amount of the released G-quadruplex sequences is significantly enhanced. Subsequently, these G-quadruplex sequences bind hemin to form numerous peroxidase mimicking DNAzymes, which cause substantially intensified color change of the probe solution for highly sensitive colorimetric detection of ATP down to the sub-nanomolar (0.33 nM) level. Our method is highly selective toward ATP against other control molecules and can be performed in one single homogeneous solution, which makes our sensing approach hold great potential for sensitive colorimetric detection of other small molecules and proteins.     

香豆素类荧光探针对硫化氢检测的研究进展

硫化氢(H2S)是目前人们发现的第三类生物内源性“气体信使分子”。其及时检测对人类的健康有着非常大的意义。随着荧光探针技术的发展,有机小分子荧光探针受到广大学者的关注。其中,香豆素因其结构简单,荧光量子产率高以及易于功能化而备受青睐。本文根据探针的识别机理综述近三年来报道的香豆素类H2S荧光探针代表性研究成果,并对其进行了展望,为后续设计开发更具实用价值的H2S荧光探针提供一点有益的参考。     

Novel Accurate Bacterial Discrimination by MALDI-Time-of-Flight MS Based on Ribosomal Proteins Coding in S10-spc-alpha Operon at Strain Level S10-GERMS

Matrix-assisted laser-desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) is one of the most widely used mass-based approaches for bacterial identification and classification because of the simple sample preparation and extremely rapid analysis within a few minutes. To establish the accurate MALDI-TOF MS bacterial discrimination method at strain level, the ribosomal subunit proteins coded in the S10-spc-alpha operon, which encodes half of the ribosomal subunit protein and is highly conserved in eubacterial genomes, were selected as reliable biomarkers. This method, named the S10-GERMS method, revealed that the strains of genus Pseudomonas were successfully identified and discriminated at species and strain levels, respectively; therefore, the S10-GERMS method was further applied to discriminate the pathovar of P. syringae. The eight selected biomarkers (L24, L30, S10, S12, S14, S16, S17, and S19) suggested the rapid discrimination of P. syringae at the strain (pathovar) level. The S10-GERMS method appears to be a powerful tool for rapid and reliable bacterial discrimination and successful phylogenetic characterization. In this article, an overview of the utilization of results from the S10-GERMS method is presented, highlighting the characterization of the Lactobacillus casei group and discrimination of the bacteria of genera Bacillus and Sphingopyxis despite only two and one base difference in the 16S rRNA gene sequence, respectively.

A polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism method based on the analysis of a 16S rRNA/tRNA(Val) mitochondrial region for species identification of commercial penaeid shrimps (Crustacea: Decapoda: Penaeoidea) of food interest

A simple PCR-RFLP method has been developed for the identification of 19 penaeid shrimp species of food interest belonging to the superfamily Penaeoidea. Preliminary amplification, sequencing and alignment of a 960 bp fragment of the 16S rRNA/tRNA(Val)/12S rRNA mitochondrial region allowed the design of 16Scru4/16Scru4 primers, constructed on well-conserved mitochondrial sequences of the penaeid shrimp species considered. Such primers afforded the amplification of an internal 515-535 bp region of the 16S rRNA/tRNA(Val) genes that, when subjected to cleavage with AluI, TaqI and HinfI, provided species-specific restriction patterns. Moreover, the proposed method also allowed the definition of different intraspecific restriction types between different populations of Litopenaeus vannamei, Farfantepenaeus notialis, Fenneropenaeus merguiensis, Metapenaeus sp., Melicertus latisulcatus and Pleoticus muelleri of different origins. The method described here was also successfully applied for the identification of penaeid shrimps in complex processed precooked foods, where this type of shellfish is used as an added-value food ingredient. Sequencing analysis provided new information about the genetic relationships among shrimps not only at the levels of species and genus, but also among different populations at intraspecific level. The 16S rRNA/tRNA(Val) fragment considered in this study seems to be accurate for shrimp species identification in raw and processed foodstuffs and for phylogenetic analysis among penaeid shrimp species.     

Amplified nucleic acid sensing using programmed self-cleaving DNAzyme

A newly designed target-assisted self-cleavage (TASC) probe composed of a target-binding site and a DNAzyme domain undergoes TASC when activated via hybridization with a target DNA/RNA. This self-splicing or self-dissociation reaction occurs in a catalytic manner with the probe as a substrate and the target as a catalyst, since the fragmented products are automatically released from the target, thus amplifying the sequence information of the latter under non-PCR, i.e., isothermal and enzyme/reagent-free, conditions. A fluorescence-reporting TASC probe having a fluorescein/dabsyl FRET pair across the cleavage site allows a mix-and-read discrimination of single-nucleotide differences in the target.     

Rapid identification of pathogenic bacteria by capillary electrophoretic analysis of rRNA genes

Molecular diagnosis is playing an increasingly important role in the rapid detection and identification of pathogenic organisms in clinical samples. The genetic variation of ribosomal genes in bacteria offers an alternative to culturing for the detection and identification of these organisms. Here 16S rRNA and 16S-23S rRNA spacer region genes were chosen as the amplified targets for single-strand conformation polymorphism (SSCP) and restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) capillary electrophoresis analysis and bacterial identification. The multiple fluorescence based SSCP method for the 16S rRNA gene and the RFLP method for the 16S-23S rRNA spacer region gene were developed and applied to the identification of pathogenic bacteria in clinical samples, in which home-made short-chained linear polyacrylamide (LPA) was used as a sieving matrix; a higher sieving capability and shorter analysis time were achieved than with a commercial sieving matrix because of the simplified template preparation procedure. A set of 270 pathogenic bacteria representing 34 species in 14 genera were analyzed, and a total of 34 unique SSCP patterns representing 34 different pathogenic bacterial species were determined. Based on the use of machine code to represent peak patterns developed in this paper, the identification of bacterial species becomes much easier.