title: Revealing DNA interactions with exogenous agents by surface-enhanced Raman scattering.
abstract: The standard protocols for DNA analysis largely involve polymerase chain reaction (PCR). However, DNA structures bound to chemical agents cannot be PCR-amplified, and therefore any sequence changes induced by external agents may be neglected. Thus, the development of analytical tools capable of characterizing the biochemical mechanisms associated with chemically induced DNA damage is demanded for the rational design of more effective chemotherapy drugs, understanding the mode of actions of carcinogenic chemicals, and monitoring the genotypic toxicology of environments. Here we report a fast, high-throughput, low-cost method for the characterization and quantitative recognition of DNA interactions with exogenous agents based on surface-enhanced Raman scattering spectroscopy. As representative chemical agents, we selected a chemotherapeutic drug (cisplatin) which forms covalent adducts with DNA, a duplex intercalating agent (methylene blue), and a cytotoxic metal ion (Hg(II)) which inserts into T:T mismatches. Rich structural information on the DNA complex architecture and properties is provided by the unique changes of their SERS spectra, which also offer an efficient analytical tool to quantify the extent of such binding.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, Alma Mater Studiorum-Università di Bologna , via Belmeloro 6, 40126 Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: Matteo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Masetti
authors.forename: Hai-nan
authors.initials: HN
authors.lastname: Xie
authors.forename: Željka
authors.initials: Ž
authors.lastname: Krpetić
authors.forename: Maurizio
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Recanatini
authors.forename: Ramon A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Alvarez-Puebla
authors.forename: Luca
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Guerrini
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000737:chemistry*; D002417:Cattle; D002945:Cisplatin / Q000737:chemistry*; D004247:DNA / Q000737:chemistry*; D008628:Mercury / Q000737:chemistry; D008751:Methylene Blue / Q000737:chemistry; D010316:Particle Size; D013059:Spectrum Analysis, Raman; D013499:Surface Properties
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D004247:DNA; C427203:calf thymus DNA; D008628:Mercury; D002945:Cisplatin; D008751:Methylene Blue