Molecular assembly of superquenchers in signaling molecular interactions

J Am Chem Soc. 2005 Sep 21;127(37):12772-3. doi: 10.1021/ja053482t.

Abstract

We have designed a novel molecular assembly of quencher molecules to form superquenchers with excellent quenching efficiency. The superquencher can be engineered as desired by assembling different types and different numbers of quencher molecules. By labeling a superquencher to a molecular beacon, a 320-fold enhancement of fluorescent signal was achieved, compared to about 14-fold from a molecular beacon prepared with the same monomer quencher. Our molecular assembly approach can effectively improve the sensitivity of a variety of fluorescent assays and can be widely useful for molecular interaction studies.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • DNA Probes / chemistry*
  • Fluorescent Dyes / chemistry*
  • Molecular Probe Techniques*
  • Molecular Structure
  • Oligonucleotides / chemistry
  • Spectrometry, Fluorescence / methods
  • Temperature

Substances

  • DNA Probes
  • Fluorescent Dyes
  • Oligonucleotides