Detection of cell carcinogenic transformation by a quadruplex DNA binding fluorescent probe.
Cancer can be easily treated when found early. A probe capable of detecting cell transformation may increase the success rate of early diagnosis of cancer. In this report we have tested the ability of a fluorescent, quadruplex DNA binding probe, 3,6-bis(1-methyl-4- vinylpyridinium) carbazole diiodide (BMVC), to detect cell transformation in vitro. BMVC was applied to living cells in several different models of cell transformation, and the fluorescence signals of BMVC were measured. The degrees of cell transformation in these models were characterized by alterations in cellular morphological phenotype and subcellular organization. When BMVC probes were applied, the number of BMVC-positive cells increased in accordance with the degree of transformation. BMVC was capable of significantly detecting formation of foci, increased cellular motility, cell proliferation, cell apoptosis, anchorage-independent growth, and increased invasiveness of transformed cells. These results demonstrate the ability of BMVC probes to detect cell transformation and indicate that BMVC is of promise for use as a probe in early cancer detection.
Department of Otolaryngology, National Taiwan University Hospital and College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan ; Research Center for Developmental Biology and Regenerative Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan.
Tsung-Lin
TL
Yang
Institute of Biomedical Engineering, College of Medicine and College of Engineering, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan.
Lin
L
Lin
Department of Otolaryngology, National Taiwan University Hospital and College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan.
Pei-Jen
PJ
Lou
Institute of Atomic and Molecular Sciences, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan.
Ta-Chau
TC
Chang
Institute of Biomedical Engineering, College of Medicine and College of Engineering, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan.
Tai-Horng
TH
Young
D000818:Animals; D002460:Cell Line; D002471:Cell Transformation, Neoplastic / Q000378:metabolism*; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes / Q000737:chemistry; D054856:G-Quadruplexes; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D013050:Spectrometry, Fluorescence
D005456:Fluorescent Dyes