A colorimetric strategy based on a water-soluble conjugated polymer for sensing pH-driven conformational conversion of DNA i-motif structure.
Using a water-soluble conjugated polymer (CP) as a sensing probe, we developed a rapid colorimetric detection strategy for pH-driven conformational conversion of DNA i-motif structure. Two sensing configurations were designed: one used CP only to detect the conversion between i-motif and random-coiled state of a C-rich single-strand DNA, the other used CP and a complementary single-strand DNA to investigate the conversion of duplex to i-motif equilibrium. All the conversions would lead to color change observed directly with naked eyes within a few minutes. The limitation of detection (LOD) is as low as 40 nM. More importantly, reversible conformational conversions by adjusting the pH of the system could also be detected.
Wang
Lihua
L
Shanghai Institute of Applied Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201800, PR China.
Liu
Xingfen
X
Yang
Qing
Q
Fan
Quli
Q
Song
Shiping
S
Fan
Chunhai
C
Huang
Wei
W
D003124:Colorimetry / Q000379:methods*; D004247:DNA / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D009690:Nucleic Acid Conformation; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry*; D012995:Solubility; D014867:Water / Q000737:chemistry*
D011108:Polymers; D014867:Water; D004247:DNA