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Ceresa L, Chavez J, Bus MM, Budowle B, Kitchner E, Kimball J, Gryczynski I, Gryczynski Z. Multi intercalators FRET enhanced detection of minute amounts of DNA. EUROPEAN BIOPHYSICS JOURNAL : EBJ 2023; 52:593-605. [PMID: 37140595 DOI: 10.1007/s00249-023-01655-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2023] [Accepted: 04/15/2023] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
A novel approach is presented that increases sensitivity and specificity for detecting minimal traces of DNA in liquid and on solid samples. Förster Resonance Energy Transfer (FRET) from YOYO to Ethidium Bromide (EtBr) substantially increases the signal from DNA-bound EtBr highly enhancing sensitivity and specificity for DNA detection. The long fluorescence lifetime of the EtBr acceptor, when bound to DNA, allows for multi-pulse pumping with time gated (MPPTG) detection, which highly increases the detectable signal of DNA-bound EtBr. A straightforward spectra/image subtraction eliminates sample background and allows for a huge increase in the overall detection sensitivity. Using a combination of FRET and MPPTG detection an amount as small as 10 pg of DNA in a microliter sample can be detected without any additional sample purification/manipulation or use of amplification technologies. This amount of DNA is comparable to the DNA content of a one to two human cells. Such a detection method based on simple optics opens the potential for robust, highly sensitive DNA detection/imaging in the field, quick evaluation/sorting (i.e., triaging) of collected DNA samples, and can support various diagnostic assays.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luca Ceresa
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, Texas Christian University, Fort Worth, TX, 76109, USA.
| | - Jose Chavez
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, Texas Christian University, Fort Worth, TX, 76109, USA
| | - Magdalena M Bus
- Center for Human Identification, University of North Texas Health Science Center, 3500 Camp Bowie Blvd., Fort Worth, TX, 76107, USA
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Genetics, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, University of North Texas Health Science Center, 3500 Camp Bowie Blvd., Fort Worth, TX, 76107, USA
| | - Bruce Budowle
- Department of Forensic Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
- Forensic Science Institute, Radford University, Radford, VA, USA
| | - Emma Kitchner
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, Texas Christian University, Fort Worth, TX, 76109, USA
| | - Joseph Kimball
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, Texas Christian University, Fort Worth, TX, 76109, USA
| | - Ignacy Gryczynski
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, Texas Christian University, Fort Worth, TX, 76109, USA
| | - Zygmunt Gryczynski
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, Texas Christian University, Fort Worth, TX, 76109, USA
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Ceresa L, Chavez J, Bus MM, Budowle B, Kitchner E, Kimball J, Gryczynski I, Gryczynski Z. Förster Resonance Energy Transfer-Enhanced Detection of Minute Amounts of DNA. Anal Chem 2022; 94:5062-5068. [PMID: 35286067 DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.1c05275] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
This article presents a novel approach to increase the detection sensitivity of trace amounts of DNA in a sample by employing Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) between intercalating dyes. Two intercalators that present efficient FRET were used to enhance sensitivity and improve specificity in detecting minute amounts of DNA. Comparison of steady-state acceptor emission spectra with and without the donor allows for simple and specific detection of DNA (acceptor bound to DNA) down to 100 pg/μL. When utilizing as an acceptor a dye with a significantly longer lifetime (e.g., ethidium bromide bound to DNA), multipulse pumping and time-gated detection enable imaging/visualization of picograms of DNA present in a microliter of an unprocessed sample or DNA collected on a swab or other substrate materials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luca Ceresa
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, Texas Christian University, Fort Worth, Texas 76109, United States
| | - Jose Chavez
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, Texas Christian University, Fort Worth, Texas 76109, United States
| | - Magdalena M Bus
- Center for Human Identification, University of North Texas Health Science Center, 3500 Camp Bowie Blvd., Fort Worth, Texas 76107, United States.,Department of Microbiology, Immunology & Genetics, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, University of North Texas Health Science Center, 3500 Camp Bowie Blvd., Fort Worth, Texas 76107, United States
| | - Bruce Budowle
- Center for Human Identification, University of North Texas Health Science Center, 3500 Camp Bowie Blvd., Fort Worth, Texas 76107, United States.,Department of Microbiology, Immunology & Genetics, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, University of North Texas Health Science Center, 3500 Camp Bowie Blvd., Fort Worth, Texas 76107, United States
| | - Emma Kitchner
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, Texas Christian University, Fort Worth, Texas 76109, United States
| | - Joseph Kimball
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, Texas Christian University, Fort Worth, Texas 76109, United States
| | - Ignacy Gryczynski
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, Texas Christian University, Fort Worth, Texas 76109, United States
| | - Zygmunt Gryczynski
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, Texas Christian University, Fort Worth, Texas 76109, United States
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