石墨烯基生物分子传感器件的第一性原理研究

基于第一性原理模拟, 我们构建了一种具有石墨烯电极的纳米间隙生物分子传感器件的理论模型. 研究发现,当碱基分子胞嘧啶、甲基化胞嘧啶和羟甲基化胞嘧啶分别通过器件时, 器件横向电流的大小差异约有1个数量级, 器件对此类分子具有一定的分辨能力. 分子之间的区分度大小受单链脱氧核糖核酸(DNA)中相邻碱基分子间的相互作用及碱基分子构型的影响. 研究工作表明, 此类石墨烯基分子传感器可准确高效地区分具有不同结构的碱基分子, 为准确定位DNA链中的变异碱基分子提出了一种新的思路.     

Sensitive detection of hydroxymethylcytosine levels in normal and neoplastic cells and tissues

A new sensitive analytical method using capillary electrophoresis with laser induced fluorescence (CE‐LIF) was applied for the simultaneous detection of DNA methylation and hydroxymethylation levels in human cancers of different origin. DNA hydroxymethylation, measured as 5‐hydroxymethylcytosine (5hmC) levels, was decreased in gliomas with mutation in the isocitrate dehydrogenase 1 (IDH1) gene when compared to IDH1‐wildtype gliomas. Independent from IDH1 mutation, 5hmC levels were decreased in lung carcinomas when compared to normal lung tissue. Reduced DNA hydroxymethylation was also observed upon dedifferentiation in cultured murine embryonic fibroblasts. Our data show that reduced DNA hydroxymethylation is related to cellular dedifferentiation and can be detected in various types of cancers, independent from the IDH1 mutation status. Quantitative determination of altered 5hmC levels may therefore have potential as a biomarker linked to cellular differentiation and tumorigenesis.