Detection of small-sized DNA fragments in a glassy nanopore by utilization of CRISPR-Cas12a as a converter system

Analyst. 2022 Feb 28;147(5):905-914. doi: 10.1039/d1an02313f.

Abstract

The fabrication of nanopores with a matched pore size, and the existence of multiple interferents make the reproducible detection of small-sized molecules by means of solid-state nanopores still challenging. A useful method to solve these problems is based on the detection of large DNA nanostructures related to the existence of small-sized targets. In particular, a DNA tetrahedron with a well-defined 3D nanostructure is the ideal candidate for use as a signal transducer. Here, we demonstrate the detection of an L1-encoding gene of HPV18 as a test DNA target sequence in a reaction buffer solution, where long single-stranded DNA linking DNA tetrahedra onto the surface of the magnetic beads is cleaved by a target DNA-activated CRISPR-cas12 system. The DNA tetrahedra are subsequently released and can be detected by the current pulse in a glassy nanopore. This approach has several advantages: (1) one signal transducer can be used to detect different targets; (2) a glassy nanopore with a pore size much larger than the target DNA fragment can boost the tolerance of the contaminants and interferents which often degrade the performance of a nanopore sensor.

MeSH terms

  • CRISPR-Cas Systems / genetics
  • DNA / chemistry
  • DNA / genetics
  • DNA, Single-Stranded / genetics
  • Nanopores*

Substances

  • DNA, Single-Stranded
  • DNA