Gold nanorods-based FRET assay for ultrasensitive detection of DNA methylation and DNA methyltransferase activity

Analyst. 2014 Sep 21;139(18):4572-7. doi: 10.1039/c4an00206g.

Abstract

A fluorescence method for the detection of DNA methylation and the assay of methyltransferase activity is proposed using gold nanorods as a fluorescence quencher on the basis of fluorescence resonance energy transfer. It is demonstrated that this method is capable of detecting methyltransferase with a detection limit of 0.25 U mL(-1), which might make this method a good candidate for monitoring DNA methylation in the future.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Biosensing Techniques / methods
  • DNA Methylation*
  • Enzyme Assays / methods*
  • Escherichia coli / enzymology*
  • Escherichia coli Proteins / analysis
  • Escherichia coli Proteins / metabolism*
  • Fluorescence Resonance Energy Transfer / methods*
  • Gold / chemistry*
  • Limit of Detection
  • Nanotubes / chemistry*
  • Nanotubes / ultrastructure
  • Site-Specific DNA-Methyltransferase (Adenine-Specific) / analysis
  • Site-Specific DNA-Methyltransferase (Adenine-Specific) / metabolism*

Substances

  • Escherichia coli Proteins
  • Gold
  • Site-Specific DNA-Methyltransferase (Adenine-Specific)
  • dam protein, E coli