Issue 8, 2007

Label- and marker-free gene detection based on hybridization-induced conformational flexibility changes in a ferrocene–PNA conjugate probe

Abstract

We report a strategy for label-free and marker-free gene detection transducing the hybridization event to an electrochemical signal based on the hybridization-induced conformational flexibility change in probe structure. The probe structure was designed to possess a ferrocene moiety as a reporter part and a cysteine moiety as an anchor part at each end of a peptidenucleic acid (PNA) as a recognition part. Electrochemical examination of probe-modified gold electrodes revealed that the ferrocene moiety was placed at the flexible end of the linear probe chain. Upon hybridization with a complementary target DNA, the resultant rigid duplex restricted the ferrocene motion to the electrode surface, causing a decrease in the observed current. The target DNA was detected with the detection limit of 1.44 × 10–11 M. Thus the probe functioned as a ‘self-reporting probe’ and detection of the target DNA was demonstrated without the need for external indicators. Moreover, the sensor electrode was able repeatedly to detect the target DNA by the process of regeneration and could discriminate a mismatched DNA.

Graphical abstract: Label- and marker-free gene detection based on hybridization-induced conformational flexibility changes in a ferrocene–PNA conjugate probe

Additions and corrections

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
20 Mar 2007
Accepted
07 Jun 2007
First published
22 Jun 2007

Analyst, 2007,132, 784-791

Label- and marker-free gene detection based on hybridization-induced conformational flexibility changes in a ferrocene–PNA conjugate probe

H. Aoki and H. Tao, Analyst, 2007, 132, 784 DOI: 10.1039/B704214K

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