A label-free fluorometric aptasensor for adenosine triphosphate (ATP) detection based on aggregation-induced emission probe

Hua Li; Zhijun Guo; Wancui Xie; Wenyi Sun; Shuang Ji; Jing Tian; Lei Lv

doi:10.1016/j.ab.2019.05.009

A label-free fluorometric aptasensor for adenosine triphosphate (ATP) detection based on aggregation-induced emission probe

Anal Biochem. 2019 Aug 1:578:60-65. doi: 10.1016/j.ab.2019.05.009. Epub 2019 May 13.

Authors

Hua Li¹, Zhijun Guo², Wancui Xie³, Wenyi Sun⁴, Shuang Ji⁵, Jing Tian⁵, Lei Lv⁶

Affiliations

¹ School of Life Sciences, Jilin Normal University, Siping, 136000, China.
² Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Biochemical Engineering, College of Marine Science and Biological Engineering, Qingdao University of Science and Technology, Qingdao, 266042, China; College of Agriculture, Yanbian University, Yanji, 133002, China.
³ Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Biochemical Engineering, College of Marine Science and Biological Engineering, Qingdao University of Science and Technology, Qingdao, 266042, China.
⁴ College of Pharmacy, Liaoning University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Dalian, 116600, China.
⁵ College of Agriculture, Yanbian University, Yanji, 133002, China.
⁶ College of Agriculture, Yanbian University, Yanji, 133002, China. Electronic address: lvlei@ybu.edu.cn.

PMID: 31095938
DOI: 10.1016/j.ab.2019.05.009

Abstract

Based on Aggregation-Induced Emission (AIE), the development of a label-free, simple and sensitive fluorometric aptasensor for adenosine triphosphate (ATP) detection is described. With ATP present, the aptamers will combine with ATP and the conformation of the aptamer will switch from a random coil to an antiparallel G-quadruplex, which impedes the digestion by exonuclease I (Exo I). Addition of 4,4 -(1E,1E)-2,2-(anthracene-9,10-diyl) bis (ethene-2,1-diyl) bis (N,N, N-trimethyl-benzenaminium iodide) (DSAI) into the solution will cause aggregation of DSAI on the surface of the aptamer/ATP complex and consequently give rise to strong emission. Additionally, a good linear relationship was observed under optimized conditions between the fluorescence intensities and the logarithm of ATP concentrations (R² = 0.9908). The established aptamer sensor was highly sensitive and exhibited a low limit of detection of 32.8 nM, with superior specificity for ATP. It was also used in the quantification of ATP levels in human serum samples and demonstrated satisfactory recoveries in the scope of 93.2%-107.6%. The cellular ATP assay results indicated that the developed method can be used for monitoring ATP concentrations in cell extracts without the interference of other substances in the cells. This method offers several advantages such as simplicity, rapidity, low cost and excellent selectivity, which make it hold great potential for the detection of ATP in bioanalytical and biological studies.

Keywords: Adenosine triphosphate; Aggregation-induced emission; Aptasensor; Label-free.

Publication types

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

MeSH terms

A549 Cells
Adenosine Triphosphate / analysis*
Aptamers, Nucleotide / chemistry
Biosensing Techniques / methods*
Fluorescence
Fluorometry / methods*
HeLa Cells
Humans
Limit of Detection

Substances

Aptamers, Nucleotide
Adenosine Triphosphate