In situ, real-time monitoring of the 3' to 5' exonucleases secreted by living cells

Anal Chem. 2012 Jun 5;84(11):5059-65. doi: 10.1021/ac300745f. Epub 2012 May 14.

Abstract

Enzymes containing 3'-5' exonuclease activities play vital roles in maintaining genome stability. Though a wide variety of methods have been developed for detection of these enzymes, few of them can be directly applied for in situ and real-time monitoring of the secretion of these active substances by living cells. Taking advantages of the free 3'-end of stacked guanine-quenched photoinduced electron transfer fluorescent probes, here we demonstrate a novel assay capable of in situ and real-time monitoring of the 3'-5' exonucleases secreted by living cells. The detection limit of the new method achieved as low as 0.04 U/mL, allowing direct monitoring of the target enzymes in an extracellular environment without preconcentration steps. False positive signals caused by other nonspecific enzymes were easily ruled out by the use of a control probe with the 3'-end modified with exonuclease-resistant phosphorothioate guanines. Using Alexa Fluor 488 as the fluorophore, the probe is adaptable to a wide range of pH conditions. The approach was successfully applied for in situ, real-time monitoring of the 3'-5' exonucleases secreted by suspension cells of Arabidopsis thaliana. It also holds great potential for in situ and real-time detection of many other DNA end-processing enzymes produced by other types of cells.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Arabidopsis / enzymology*
  • Biosensing Techniques*
  • Exonucleases / analysis*
  • Exonucleases / metabolism
  • Fluorescent Dyes
  • Guanine / chemistry
  • Hydrogen-Ion Concentration
  • Limit of Detection
  • Phosphorothioate Oligonucleotides / chemistry*
  • Time Factors

Substances

  • Fluorescent Dyes
  • Phosphorothioate Oligonucleotides
  • Guanine
  • Exonucleases