title: DNA fluorescence shift sensor: a rapid method for the detection of DNA hybridization using silver nanoclusters.
abstract: DNA-templated silver nanoclusters (AgNC) are a class of subnanometer sized fluorophores with good photostability and brightness. It has been applied as a diagnostic tool mainly for deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) detection. Integration of DNA oligomers to generate AgNCs is interesting as varying DNA sequences can result in different fluorescence spectra. This allows a simple fluorescence shifting effect to occur upon DNA hybridization with the hybridization efficiency being a pronominal factor for successful shifting. The ability to shift the fluorescence spectra as a result of hybridization overcomes the issue of background intensities in most fluorescent based assays. Here we describe an optimized method for the detection of single-stranded and double-stranded synthetic forkhead box P3 (FOXP3) target by hybridization with the DNA fluorescence shift sensor. The system forms a three-way junction by successful hybridization of AgNC, G-rich strand (G-rich) to the target DNA, which generated a shift in fluorescence spectra with a marked increase in fluorescence intensity. The DNA fluorescence shift sensor presents a rapid and specific alternative to conventional DNA detection.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Research in Molecular Medicine, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 11800 Minden, Penang, Malaysia. Electronic address: lsy5444@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Shin Yong
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Institute for Research in Molecular Medicine, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 11800 Minden, Penang, Malaysia. Electronic address: joonsuh_kj@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Nur Hidayah
authors.initials: NH
authors.lastname: Hairul Bahara
authors.affiliation: Institute for Research in Molecular Medicine, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 11800 Minden, Penang, Malaysia. Electronic address: yeesiew@usm.my.
authors.forename: Yee Siew
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Choong
authors.affiliation: Institute for Research in Molecular Medicine, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 11800 Minden, Penang, Malaysia. Electronic address: theamsoon@usm.my.
authors.forename: Theam Soon
authors.initials: TS
authors.lastname: Lim
authors.affiliation: Institute for Research in Molecular Medicine, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 11800 Minden, Penang, Malaysia. Electronic address: geejun@usm.my.
authors.forename: Gee Jun
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Tye
mesh_terms: D015342:DNA Probes / Q000737:chemistry*; D004277:DNA, Single-Stranded / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry; D053768:Metal Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry*; D009693:Nucleic Acid Hybridization / Q000379:methods; D012834:Silver / Q000737:chemistry*; D013050:Spectrometry, Fluorescence
chemical_list: D015342:DNA Probes; D004277:DNA, Single-Stranded; D012834:Silver
keywords: DNA detection; DNA hybridization; Fluorescence shift; Silver nanocluster (AgNC)