Optical and Structural Characterization of a Chronic Myeloid Leukemia DNA Biosensor

ACS Chem Biol. 2018 May 18;13(5):1235-1242. doi: 10.1021/acschembio.8b00029. Epub 2018 Mar 23.

Abstract

Selective base pairing is the foundation of DNA recognition. Here, we elucidate the molecular and structural details of a FRET-based two-component molecular beacon relying on steady-state fluorescence spectroscopy, small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS), microscale thermophoresis (MST), and differential electrophoretic mobility. This molecular beacon was designed to detect the most common fusion sequences causing chronic myeloid leukemia, e14a2 and e13a2. The emission spectra indicate that the self-assembly of the different components of the biosensor occurs sequentially, triggered by the fully complementary target. We further assessed the structural alterations leading to the specific fluorescence FRET signature by SAXS, MST, and the differential electrophoretic mobility, where the size range observed is consistent with hybridization and formation of a 1:1:1 complex for the probe in the presence of the complementary target and revelator. These results highlight the importance of different techniques to explore conformational DNA changes in solution and its potential to design and characterize molecular biosensors for genetic disease diagnosis.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Biosensing Techniques*
  • Chromosomes, Human, Pair 22
  • Chromosomes, Human, Pair 9
  • DNA, Neoplasm / chemistry*
  • Electrophoresis / methods
  • Fluorescence Resonance Energy Transfer / methods*
  • Fusion Proteins, bcr-abl / genetics*
  • Humans
  • Leukemia, Myelogenous, Chronic, BCR-ABL Positive / diagnosis*
  • Leukemia, Myelogenous, Chronic, BCR-ABL Positive / genetics
  • Nucleic Acid Conformation
  • Philadelphia Chromosome
  • Scattering, Small Angle*
  • X-Ray Diffraction / methods*

Substances

  • DNA, Neoplasm
  • Fusion Proteins, bcr-abl