MUC1 detection and in situ imaging method based on aptamer conformational switch and hybridization chain reaction

Zihan Song; Yun Zhou; Minzhe Shen; Dong Zhao; Haihong Hu; Su Zeng; Lianli Sun; Sheng Cai

doi:10.1016/j.talanta.2021.123129

MUC1 detection and in situ imaging method based on aptamer conformational switch and hybridization chain reaction

Talanta. 2022 Mar 1:239:123129. doi: 10.1016/j.talanta.2021.123129. Epub 2021 Dec 7.

Authors

Zihan Song¹, Yun Zhou², Minzhe Shen¹, Dong Zhao¹, Haihong Hu¹, Su Zeng¹, Lianli Sun³, Sheng Cai⁴

Affiliations

¹ Institute of Drug Metabolism and Pharmaceutical Analysis, Zhejiang Province Key Laboratory of Anti-Cancer Drug Research, College of Pharmaceutical Science, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310058, China.
² First Affiliated Hospital of the Medical College, Shihezi University, Shihezi, Xinjiang, 832099, China.
³ Institute of Drug Metabolism and Pharmaceutical Analysis, Zhejiang Province Key Laboratory of Anti-Cancer Drug Research, College of Pharmaceutical Science, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310058, China. Electronic address: sunlianli@zju.edu.cn.
⁴ Institute of Drug Metabolism and Pharmaceutical Analysis, Zhejiang Province Key Laboratory of Anti-Cancer Drug Research, College of Pharmaceutical Science, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310058, China. Electronic address: caisheng@zju.edu.cn.

PMID: 34896820
DOI: 10.1016/j.talanta.2021.123129

Abstract

Mucin 1 (MUC1) overexpression in tumor cells is related to various cancers, including breast, stomach, and lung cancer. MUC1 detection and imaging are important for cancer localization in tissue sections to support histopathological diagnosis. In this study, we developed a simple, enzyme-free MUC1 detection and in situ imaging method. Three hairpin probes, Apt-trigger, HP1-FAM, and HP2, were designed for MUC1 recognition and hybridization chain reaction (HCR). The Apt-trigger probe was composed of two sequences: the MUC1 aptamer and HCR trigger sequence. The 5' end of the HP1-FAM probe was modified with a FAM signal molecule. In the presence of MUC1, the aptamer sequence is activated and bound to MUC1, which opens the hairpin structure. Then, the trigger sequence gets exposed and, complementary to HP1-FAM, triggers a continuous HCR process. This method was successfully used to detect MUC1 of 200 pM-25 nM and MUC1 in situ imaging in specific cells, such as human breast carcinoma (MCF-7) and human colon cancer (HT-29) cells.

Keywords: Detection; Enzyme-free; Hybridization chain reaction (HCR); In situ imaging; Mucin 1 (MUC1).

MeSH terms

Aptamers, Nucleotide*
Humans
Mucin-1* / genetics
Nucleic Acid Hybridization

Substances

Aptamers, Nucleotide
MUC1 protein, human
Mucin-1