Quantification of mRNA in Single Cells Based on Dimerization-Induced Photoluminescence Nonblinking of Quantum Dots

Anal Chem. 2022 Sep 13;94(36):12407-12415. doi: 10.1021/acs.analchem.2c02209. Epub 2022 Sep 1.

Abstract

Photoluminescence (PL) intermittency (or "blinking") is a unique characteristic of single quantum dot (QD) emission. Here, we report a novel single-molecule detection strategy for the intracellular mRNA of interest using the mRNA-induced nonblinking QD dimers as probes. The working principle of the method is that the DNA hybrid of the target DNA (or mRNA) with a biotin-modified ssDNA probe can induce two blinking streptavidin-modified QDs (SAV-QDs) conjugated. The formed QD dimer as a bright spot showed a nonblinking emission property, observed with total inner reflection fluorescence microscopy (TIRFM). In theory, one nonblinking spot indicated a target DNA (or mRNA). The experimental results from single-spot fluorescence trajectory analysis and single-particle brightness analysis based on TIRFM and fluorescence correlation spectroscopy (FCS) techniques verified this dimerization process of QDs or its induced nonblinking emission. Employing a target DNA with the same base sequences to Survivin mRNA as a model, the detection strategy was used to detect the target DNA concentration based on the linear relationship between the percentage of the nonblinking spots and the target DNA concentration. This single-molecule detection strategy was also successfully used for determining Survivin mRNA in a single HeLa cell. The method can simplify the hybridization steps, eliminate self-quenching and photobleaching of fluorophores, and reduce the influence of unspecific binding on the detection.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • DNA / analysis
  • DNA / genetics
  • Dimerization
  • HeLa Cells
  • Humans
  • Quantum Dots* / chemistry
  • RNA, Messenger / genetics
  • Survivin

Substances

  • RNA, Messenger
  • Survivin
  • DNA