title: A quencher-free molecular beacon design based on pyrene excimer fluorescence using pyrene-labeled UNA (unlocked nucleic acid).
abstract: A quencher-free molecular beacon capable of generating pyrene excimer fluorescence has been constructed using strategically positioned pyrene-UNA monomers. Hybridization of a fully complementary RNA target was accompanied by a pyrene excimer emission increase of more than 900%, and detection of RNA in living cells was demonstrated.
authors.affiliation: Nucleic Acid Center, Department of Physics, Chemistry and Pharmacy, University of Southern Denmark, Campusvej 55, 5320 Odense M, Denmark.
authors.forename: Kasper K
authors.initials: KK
authors.lastname: Karlsen
authors.forename: Anders
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Okholm
authors.forename: Jørgen
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kjems
authors.forename: Jesper
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wengel
mesh_terms: D005456:Fluorescent Dyes / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal / Q000379:methods; D009690:Nucleic Acid Conformation; D009696:Nucleic Acids / Q000032:analysis*; D015345:Oligonucleotide Probes / Q000737:chemistry*; D011721:Pyrenes / Q000737:chemistry*; D012313:RNA / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry; D013050:Spectrometry, Fluorescence / Q000379:methods
chemical_list: D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D009696:Nucleic Acids; D015345:Oligonucleotide Probes; D011721:Pyrenes; D012313:RNA
keywords: Cell imaging; Nucleic acid detection; Pyrene excimer; Quencher-free molecular beacon; Unlocked nucleic acid (UNA)