Detection of deoxyribozyme (DNAzyme) cleavage process usually needs complex and time-consuming radial labeling, gel electrophoresis and autoradiography. This paper reported an approach to detect DNAzyme cleavage process in real time using a fluorescence probe. The probe was employed as DNAzyme substrate to convert directly the cleavage information into fluorescence signal in real time. Compared with traditional approach, this non-isotope method not only brought a convenient means to monitor the DNAzyme cleavage reaction, but also offered abundant dynamic data for choosing potential gene therapeutic agents. It provides a new tool for DNAzyme research, as well as a new insight into research on human disease diagnosis. Based on this method, 8- 17deoxyribozyme (8-17DNAzyme) against hepatitis C virus RNA (HCV-RNA) was designed and the cleavage process was studied in real time. ?2009 Ke Min Wang. Published by Elsevier B.V. on behalf of Chinese Chemical Society. All fights reserved.
Xiang Xian Meng Xiao Hai Yang Ke Min Wang Wei Hong Tan Qiu Ping Guo
In recent years, specific detection of proteins is one of the hot issues about aptamers in proteomics. Here we reported a simple, sensitive and specific proximity-dependent protein assay with dual DNA aptamers. Thrombin was used as the model protein, and two aptamer probes with complementary se- quence at 3′-end were designed for the two distinct epitopes of the protein. Association of the two ap- tamers with thrombin resulted in stable hybrids due to the proximity of 3′-end, then polymerase reac- tion was induced. The amount of obtained dsDNA was indicated using the fluorescence dye Sybr Green I. The results showed that the initial velocity of polymerase reaction had a positive correlation with concentration of thrombin. The advantages of this dual-aptamer-based approach included simple and flexible design of aptamer probes, high selectivity and high sensitivity. The detection limit was 6.9 pmol/L.
YANG XiaoHai WANG Lei WANG KeMin TAN WeiHong TANG HongXing MENG XiangXian GUO QiuPing
A kind of temperature-sensitive nanotube array membrane was developed by modifying gold-nanotube array membranes with poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAm). The permeation ability of the mem-branes at different temperatures was investigated using sodium fluorescein and quantum dots as probes. The results showed that the pore diameter of nanotube was changed due to the reversible re-sponse of PNIPAm-modified membranes to temperature, and then the permeation ability of the mem-branes was changed. The permeation of fluorescence probes was slow and even almost blocked at 25℃ (below the lower critical solution temperature, LCST), since PNIPAm formed expanded structures and decreased the pore size. While at 40℃ (above the LCST), the permeation was increased, since PNIPAm became compact structures and the pore diameter was increased. Furthermore, the permea-tion ability of the temperature-sensitive nanotube array membranes could be adjusted reversibly and it is possible to use the membranes in nanofluidic devices, nanogates, etc.
YANG XiaoHai WU YingBen WANG Qing WANG KeMin WANG ShengFeng
In this study, GFP mRNA in COS-7 cell and GFP-transfected COS-7 cell was detected in real time using phosphorothioate-modified molecular beacon based on living cell imaging method. Results showed that phosphorothioate-modified molecular beacon still kept the advantages of molecular beacon, such as, excellent selectivity, high sensitivity, and no separation detection. In addition, this modification could significantly increase the nuclease resistance of molecular beacon. Phosphorothioate-modified molecular beacon can efficiently reduce the false positive signal and improve the accuracy of living cell mRNA detection.
TANG HongXing YANG XiaoHai WANG KeMin TAN WeiHong LI Wei