title: Detection of specific sequences in RNA using differential adsorption of single-stranded oligonucleotides on gold nanoparticles.
abstract: We have used the disparity in adsorption rates for single- and double-stranded RNA on ionically coated gold nanoparticles suspended in a colloid to design a rapid sequence identification assay. Unlabeled target RNA and a probe sequence are mixed prior to exposure to the gold nanoparticles to enable efficient hybridization. We have designed assays based on either color changes or fluorescence that are sensitive to a few picomoles of target. Single-base mutations on RNA sequences can be detected even in complex oligonucleotide mixtures. The assay requires less than 10 min so that RNA degradation problems are avoided.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, University of Rochester, Rochester, New York 14627, USA.
authors.forename: Huixiang
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Lewis
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Rothberg
mesh_terms: D000327:Adsorption; D001483:Base Sequence; D003124:Colorimetry; D006046:Gold / Q000737:chemistry*; D009154:Mutation / Q000235:genetics; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry*; D009841:Oligonucleotides / Q000737:chemistry*; D012313:RNA / Q000737:chemistry*; D012996:Solutions
chemical_list: D009841:Oligonucleotides; D012996:Solutions; D012313:RNA; D006046:Gold