title: A fluorometric assay for acetylcholinesterase activity and inhibitor detection based on DNA-templated copper/silver nanoclusters.
abstract: A novel label-free, rapid, cost-effective, and highly sensitive fluorometric sensor has been constructed for the detection of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity and its inhibitor based on the fluorescence quenching of DNA-templated copper/silver nanoclusters (DNA-Cu/AgNCs). In this assay, AChE catalyzes the hydrolysis of acetylthiocholine (ATCh) to form thiocholine which induces fluorescence quenching of DNA-Cu/AgNCs. The AChE activity could be detected as low as 0.05mU/mL and with a linear range from 0.05 to 2.0mU/mL. This assay offers a very convenient "mix and detect" approach for AChE activity. On the other hand, tacrine and organophosphorus pesticides (OPPs) were employed to inhibit the hydrolysis of ATCh, which could eliminate the fluorescence quenching of DNA-Cu/AgNCs. The IC50 of tacrine and methamidophos were estimated to be 16.9nM and 0.075mg/L, respectively. This method was also used to detect spiked OPPs in agricultural products successfully. The present work may expand the use of DNA-Cu/AgNCs to the field of enzyme sensors.
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Chemo/Biosensing and Chemometrics, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Hunan University, Changsha 410082, PR China.
authors.forename: Wenhua
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Wang
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Yufang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.forename: Yalin
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Xia
authors.forename: Qinpeng
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Shen
authors.forename: Zhou
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Nie
authors.forename: Yan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Shouzhuo
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yao
mesh_terms: D000110:Acetylcholinesterase / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D000122:Acetylthiocholine / Q000737:chemistry; D015374:Biosensing Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D002800:Cholinesterase Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D003300:Copper / Q000737:chemistry; D004247:DNA / Q000737:chemistry; D005470:Fluorometry; D006868:Hydrolysis; D053768:Metal Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry*; D012834:Silver / Q000737:chemistry; D013619:Tacrine / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D002800:Cholinesterase Inhibitors; D012834:Silver; D000122:Acetylthiocholine; D013619:Tacrine; D003300:Copper; D004247:DNA; D000110:Acetylcholinesterase