Electrochemical immunosensor based on hairpin DNA probe for specific detection of N6-methyladenosine RNA

Development of SPQC sensor based on the specific recognition of TAL-effectors for locus-specific detection of 6-methyladenine in DNA

N6-methyladenosine (6mA) plays a pivotal role in diverse biological processes, including cancer, bacterial toxin secretion, and bacterial drug resistance. However, to date there has not been a selective, sensitive, and simple method for quantitative detection of 6mA at single base resolution. Herein, we present a series piezoelectric quartz crystal (SPQC) sensor based on the specific recognition of transcription-activator-like effectors (TALEs) for locus-specific detection of 6mA. Detection sensitivity is enhanced through the use of a hybridization chain reaction (HCR) in conjunction with silver staining. The limit of detection (LOD) of the sensor was 0.63 pM and can distinguish single base mismatches. We demonstrate the applicability of the sensor platform by quantitating 6mA DNA at a specific site in biological matrix. The SPQC sensor presented herein offers a promising platform for in-depth study of cancer, bacterial toxin secretion, and bacterial drug resistance.

End-labeling-based electrochemical strategy for detection of adenine methylation in nucleic acid by differential pulse voltammetry

A promising electrochemical strategy for assay of N6-methyladenosine (m6A)/N6-methyladenine (6mA) in RNA/DNA is proposed. The key of this strategy is the end-labeling of nucleic acid, which makes it possible to detect methylation level in unknown sequence. Firstly, the end of m6A-RNA or 6mA-DNA was labeled with sulfhydryl group through T4 polynucleotide kinase (T4 PNK) and then directly assembled on a gold nanoparticle-modified glassy carbon electrode (AuNPs/GCE). Secondly, methylation sites in RNA/DNA were specifically recognized by anti-m6A-antibody, and then, horseradish peroxidase-labeled goat anti-rabbit IgG (HRP-IgG) was further conjugated on the antibody. Thirdly, HRP-IgG catalyzed the hydroquinone oxidation reaction to generate amplified current signal which correlates with the amount of m6A/6mA in nucleic acid. This method showed a wide linear range from 0.0001 to 10 nM for m6A-RNA, 0.001 to 100 nM for 6mA-dsDNA, and 0.0001 to 10 nM for 6mA-ssDNA. The method was successfully applied to detection of m6A/6mA in RNA/DNA from HeLa cells and E. coli cells and validation of the decrease of m6A-RNA in HeLa cells after treatment with FTO protein.

Photoelectrochemical immunosensor for methylated RNA detection based on WS2 and poly(U) polymerase-triggered signal amplification

A novel photoelectrochemical immunosensor has been constructed for the determination of methylated RNA. MoS₂ nanosheets with large specific area were employed as photoactive material, gold nanoparticles were used as signal amplification unit and immobilization matrix of 4-mercaptophenylboronic acid, anti-m⁶A antibody was adopted as methylated RNA recognition reagent, and poly(U) polymerase-mediated RNA chain extension and Ru(NH₃)₆³⁺ were used as assisted signal amplification unit. With the sensitization effect of Ru(NH₃)₆³⁺, the photoactivity of WS₂ nanosheets was improved greatly, which also improved the sensitivity. Using visible-light excitation and ascorbic acid as electron donor, the sensitive determination of methylated RNA was achieved by monitoring the photocurrent change with different concentrations of methylated RNA. This photoelectrochemical immunosensor has a wide linear relationship with methylated RNA concentration from 0.05 to 35 nM under optimal experimental conditions. The low detection limit of 14.5 pM was realized based on 3σ criterion. In addition to the good selectivity, this sensor also presents high reproducibility with a relative standard deviation of 1.4% for the photocurrent of seven electrodes. The applicability of the developed method was also investigated by detecting the level of methylated RNA in corn seedling leaves with and without sulfadiazine treatment. Graphical abstract A novel photoelectrochemical immunosensor was developed for methylated RNA detection using the photoactive material of MoS2 and poly(U) polymerase-mediated RNA chain extension.

Electrochemical biosensing to move forward in cancer epigenetics and metastasis: A review

Early detection and effective treatment are crucial to reduce the physical, emotional, and financial pressure exerted by growing cancer burden on individuals, families, communities, and health systems. Currently, it is clear that the accurate analysis of emerging cancer epigenetic and metastatic-related biomarkers at different molecular levels is envisaged as an exceptional solution for early and reliable diagnosis and the improvement of therapy efficiency through personalized treatments. Within this field, electrochemical biosensing has demonstrated to be competitive over other emerging and currently used methodologies for the determination of these biomarkers accomplishing the premises of user-friendly, multiplexing ability, simplicity, reduced costs and decentralized analysis, demanded by clinical oncology, thus priming electrochemical biosensors to spark a diagnostic revolution for cancer prediction and eradication. This review article critically discusses the main characteristics, opportunities and versatility exhibited by electrochemical biosensing, through highlighting representative examples published during the last two years, for the reliable determination of these emerging biomarkers, with great diagnostic, predictive and prognostic potential. Special attention is paid on electrochemical affinity biosensors developed for the single or multiplexed determination of methylation events, non-coding RNAs, ctDNA features and metastasis-related protein biomarkers both in liquid and solid biopsies of cancer patients. The main challenges to which further work must be addressed and the impact of these advances should have in the clinical acceptance of these emerging biomarkers are also discussed which decisively will contribute to understand the molecular basis involved in the epigenetics and metastasis of cancer and to apply more efficient personalized therapies.