Sensitive detection of DNA methyltransferase activity based on rolling circle amplification technology

This work develops a fluorescence approach for sensitive detection of DNA methyltransferase activity based on endonuclease and rolling circle amplification （RCA） technique. In the presence of DNA adenine methylation （Dam） MTase, the methylation-responsive sequence of hairpin probe is methylated and cleaved by the methylation-sensitive restriction endonuclease Dpn 1. The products cleaved by restriction endonuclease Dpn I then function as a signal primer to initiate RCA reaction by hybridizing with the circular DNA template. Each RCA product containing thousands of repeated sequences might hybridize with a large number of molecular beacons （detection probes）, resulting in an enhanced fluorescence signal. In the absence of Dam MTase, neither methylation/cleavage nor RCA reaction can be initiated and no fluorescence signal is observed. The proposed method exhibits a dynamic range from 0.5 U/mL to 30 U/mL and a detection limit of 0.18 U/mL. This method can be used for the screening of antimicrobial drugs and has a great potential to be further applied in early clinical diagnosis.

A novel fluorescent detection for PDGF-BB based on dsDNA-templated copper nanoparticles

A novel method for the detection of PDGF-BB has been developed using double-strand DNA-copper nanoparticles （dsDNA-CuNPs） as fluorescent markers. This assay relies on the premise that the aptamer- based probe undergoes a conformational change upon binding with target protein, and subsequently triggers polymerization reaction to generate dsDNA. Then, the resultant dsDNA can be used as a template for the formation of CuNPs with high fluorescence. Under the optimized conditions, the proposed assay allowed sensitive and selective detection of PDGF-BB with a detection limit of 4 nmol/L. This possibly makes it an attractive platform for the detection of a variety of biomolecules whose aptamers undergo similar conformational change.

A facile approach toward multicolor polymers:Supramolecular self-assembly via host-guest interaction

A one-step and facile strategy toward the construction of multicolor polymers via supramolecular selfassembly was proposed.Multicolor polymers were simply prepared by the self-assembly of adamantane-labeled fluorescein,adamantane-labeled rhodamine B and β-cyclodextrin polymers via host-guest interaction between β-cyclodextrin and adamantane.Multicolor polymers showed several interesting properties：multiple emission signatures by a single wavelength excitation,easy tunability,intense fluorescence,high photostablility.In addition,the self-assembly approach implied a facile and flexible strategy for constructing functionalized materials,such as multicolor materials for biological labeling and imaging,and sensing materials for the detection of physiological parameters.