Fluorometric Detection of MicroRNA Using Isothermal Gene Amplification and Graphene Oxide

Anal Chem. 2016 Mar 15;88(6):2999-3003. doi: 10.1021/acs.analchem.6b00046. Epub 2016 Feb 25.

Abstract

We have developed a facile fluorometric system for the detection of microRNA (miRNA), using rolling circle amplification (RCA), graphene oxide (GO), and fluorescently labeled peptide nucleic acid (F-PNA). The padlock probe DNA complementary to a target miRNA was selectively ligated to form circular DNA that was then used as the template for RCA. F-PNAs complementary to the target miRNA were annealed to multiple sites of the isothermally amplified single-stranded RCA product (RCAP) containing multiple target miRNA sequences. This F-PNA/RCAP duplex is less adsorbed onto the GO monolayer, thus attenuating the quenching of F-PNA fluorescence by GO. In the absence of target miRNA (and hence the absence of RCA and duplex formation), the free F-PNA is completely adsorbed onto the GO monolayer and fluorescence quenching ensues. Thus, GO-based fluorescence detection coupled with isothermal gene amplification would be a simple and convenient method for the quantitative detection of miRNA.

Publication types

  • Letter
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Fluorometry / methods*
  • Gene Amplification*
  • Graphite / chemistry*
  • MicroRNAs / chemistry*
  • Oxides / chemistry

Substances

  • MicroRNAs
  • Oxides
  • Graphite