Methods for strand-specific DNA detection with cationic conjugated polymers suitable for incorporation into DNA chips and microarrays.
A strand-specific DNA sensory method is described based on surface-bound peptide nucleic acids and water-soluble cationic conjugated polymers. The main transduction mechanism operates by taking advantage of the net increase in negative charge at the peptide nucleic acid surface that occurs upon single-stranded DNA hybridization. Electrostatic forces cause the oppositely charged cationic conjugated polymer to bind selectively to the "complementary" surfaces. This approach circumvents the current need to label the probe or target strands. The polymer used in these assays is poly[9,9'-bis(6''-N,N,N-trimethylammonium)hexyl)fluorene-co-alt-4,7-(2,1,3-benzothiadiazole) dibromide], which was specifically designed and synthesized to be compatible with excitation sources used in commonly used DNA microarray readers. Furthermore, the utility of poly[9,9'-bis(6''-N,N,N-trimethylammonium)-hexyl)fluorene-co-alt-4,7-(2,1,3-benzothiadiazole) dibromide] has been demonstrated in homogenous and solid-state assays that involve fluorescence resonance energy transfer to a reporter dye (Cy5) and that can benefit from the light harvesting properties observed in water-soluble conjugated polymers.
Liu
Bin
B
Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry and Materials, Institute for Polymers and Organic Solids, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA 93106, USA. bliu@chem.ucsb.edu
Bazan
Guillermo C
GC
D004247:DNA / Q000032:analysis; D004277:DNA, Single-Stranded / Q000032:analysis*; D005449:Fluorenes; D031541:Fluorescence Resonance Energy Transfer; D008722:Methods; D015335:Molecular Probes; D020411:Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis / Q000379:methods*; D011073:Polyamines / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry*; D000071228:Polyelectrolytes; D000644:Quaternary Ammonium Compounds; D013830:Thiadiazoles
D004247:DNA; D004277:DNA, Single-Stranded; D005449:Fluorenes; D015335:Molecular Probes; D011073:Polyamines; D000071228:Polyelectrolytes; D000644:Quaternary Ammonium Compounds; D013830:Thiadiazoles; C015923:hexyltrimethylammonium; C015700:benzo-1,2,3-thiadiazole