title: Multivalent interactions regulate signal transduction in a self-assembled Hg2+ sensor.
abstract: A self-assembled sensing system able to detect Hg(2+) at low nanomolar concentrations is reported that operates through a signal transduction pathway involving multivalent interactions. The analyte causes dimerization of low-affinity ligands, resulting in a complex with a high affinity for a multivalent monolayer-protected gold nanoparticle (AuNP). This complex displaces a quenched fluorescent reporter from the AuNP, resulting in a turn ON of fluorescence. It is shown that the strength of the output signal can be regulated by tuning the multivalent interactions between the complex and the NP. Finally, it is shown that multivalent interactions drive the self-selection of a high-affinity complex from a mixture of low-affinity ligands.
authors: Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Padova , Via Marzolo 1, 35131 Padova, Italy.
authors: Subhabrata
authors: S
authors: Maiti
authors: Cristian
authors: C
authors: Pezzato
authors: Sergio
authors: S
authors: Garcia Martin
authors: Leonard J
authors: LJ
authors: Prins
mesh_terms: D015374:Biosensing Techniques; D020650:Combinatorial Chemistry Techniques; D019281:Dimerization; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes / Q000737:chemistry; D006046:Gold / Q000737:chemistry*; D007477:Ions; D008024:Ligands; D008422:Materials Testing; D008628:Mercury / Q000737:chemistry*; D053768:Metal Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry*; D008968:Molecular Conformation; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry; D015398:Signal Transduction; D013050:Spectrometry, Fluorescence; D013936:Thymidine / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D007477:Ions; D008024:Ligands; D006046:Gold; D008628:Mercury; D013936:Thymidine