title: Ultrasensitive Direct Quantification of Nucleobase Modifications in DNA by Surface-Enhanced Raman Scattering: The Case of Cytosine.
abstract: Recognition of chemical modifications in canonical nucleobases of nucleic acids is of key importance since such modified variants act as different genetic encoders, introducing variability in the biological information contained in DNA. Herein, we demonstrate the feasibility of direct SERS in combination with chemometrics and microfluidics for the identification and relative quantification of 4 different cytosine modifications in both single- and double-stranded DNA. The minute amount of DNA required per measurement, in the sub-nanogram regime, removes the necessity of pre-amplification or enrichment steps (which are also potential sources of artificial DNA damages). These findings show great potentials for the development of fast, low-cost and high-throughput screening analytical devices capable of detecting known and unknown modifications in nucleic acids (DNA and RNA) opening new windows of activity in several fields such as biology, medicine and forensic sciences.
authors.affiliation: Medcom Advance, Viladecans Business Park, Edificio Brasil, Bertran i Musitu 83-85, 08840 Viladecans, Barcelona (Spain).|Universitat Rovira i Virgili and Centro Tecnológico de la Química de Catalunya, Carrer de Marcel⋅lí Domingo s/n, 43007 Tarragona (Spain).
authors.forename: Judit
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Morla-Folch
authors.affiliation: Medcom Advance, Viladecans Business Park, Edificio Brasil, Bertran i Musitu 83-85, 08840 Viladecans, Barcelona (Spain).
authors.forename: Hai-nan
authors.initials: HN
authors.lastname: Xie
authors.affiliation: Medcom Advance, Viladecans Business Park, Edificio Brasil, Bertran i Musitu 83-85, 08840 Viladecans, Barcelona (Spain).|Universitat Rovira i Virgili and Centro Tecnológico de la Química de Catalunya, Carrer de Marcel⋅lí Domingo s/n, 43007 Tarragona (Spain).
authors.forename: Patricia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Gisbert-Quilis
authors.affiliation: Medcom Advance, Viladecans Business Park, Edificio Brasil, Bertran i Musitu 83-85, 08840 Viladecans, Barcelona (Spain).
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gómez-de Pedro
authors.affiliation: Medcom Advance, Viladecans Business Park, Edificio Brasil, Bertran i Musitu 83-85, 08840 Viladecans, Barcelona (Spain).|Universitat Rovira i Virgili and Centro Tecnológico de la Química de Catalunya, Carrer de Marcel⋅lí Domingo s/n, 43007 Tarragona (Spain).
authors.forename: Nicolas
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Pazos-Perez
authors.affiliation: Medcom Advance, Viladecans Business Park, Edificio Brasil, Bertran i Musitu 83-85, 08840 Viladecans, Barcelona (Spain). ramon.alvarez@urv.cat.|Universitat Rovira i Virgili and Centro Tecnológico de la Química de Catalunya, Carrer de Marcel⋅lí Domingo s/n, 43007 Tarragona (Spain). ramon.alvarez@urv.cat.|ICREA, Passeig Lluís Companys 23, 08010 Barcelona (Spain). ramon.alvarez@urv.cat.
authors.forename: Ramon A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Alvarez-Puebla
authors.affiliation: Medcom Advance, Viladecans Business Park, Edificio Brasil, Bertran i Musitu 83-85, 08840 Viladecans, Barcelona (Spain). luca.guerrini@ctqc.org.|Universitat Rovira i Virgili and Centro Tecnológico de la Química de Catalunya, Carrer de Marcel⋅lí Domingo s/n, 43007 Tarragona (Spain). luca.guerrini@ctqc.org.
authors.forename: Luca
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Guerrini
mesh_terms: D003596:Cytosine / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry*; D004247:DNA / Q000737:chemistry*; D013059:Spectrum Analysis, Raman; D013499:Surface Properties
chemical_list: D003596:Cytosine; D004247:DNA
keywords: DNA; adductomics; cytosine; nucleobase modifications; surface-enhanced Raman scattering