Bielecka Patrycja, Juskowiak Bernard
Laboratory of Bioanalytical Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, Adam Mickiewicz University, Umultowska 89b 61-614 Poznan, Poland.
Molecules. 2015 Oct 9;20(10):18511-25. doi: 10.3390/molecules201018511.
There are cytosine-rich regions in the genome that bind protons with high specificity. Thus protonated C-rich sequence may undergo folding to tetraplex structures called i-motifs. Therefore, one can regard such specific C-rich oligonucleotides as aptamers that recognize protons and undergo conformational transitions. Proper labeling of the aptamer with a fluorescent tag constitutes a platform to construct a pH-sensitive aptasensor. Since the hemiprotonated C-C⁺ base pairs are responsible for the folded tetraplex structure of i-motif, we decided to substitute one of cytosines in an aptamer sequence with its fluorescent analogue, 1,3-diaza-2-oxophenothiazine (tC). In this paper we report on three tC-modified fluorescent probes that contain RET related sequences as a proton recognizing aptamer. Results of the circular dichroism (CD), UV absorption melting experiments, and steady-state fluorescence measurements of these tC-modified i-motif probes are presented and discussed. The pH-induced i-motif formation by the probes resulted in fluorescence quenching of tC fluorophore. Efficiency of quenching was related to the pH variations. Suitability of the sensor for monitoring pH changes was also demonstrated.
基因组中存在富含胞嘧啶的区域,这些区域能以高特异性结合质子。因此,富含质子化胞嘧啶的序列可能会折叠成称为i-基序的四重结构。所以,人们可以将这种特定的富含胞嘧啶的寡核苷酸视为识别质子并经历构象转变的适体。用荧光标签对适体进行适当标记构成了构建pH敏感适体传感器的平台。由于半质子化的C-C⁺碱基对负责i-基序的折叠四重结构,我们决定用其荧光类似物1,3-二氮杂-2-氧代吩噻嗪(tC)替代适体序列中的一个胞嘧啶。在本文中,我们报道了三种含有RET相关序列作为质子识别适体的tC修饰荧光探针。给出并讨论了这些tC修饰的i-基序探针的圆二色性(CD)、紫外吸收熔解实验和稳态荧光测量结果。探针在pH诱导下形成i-基序导致tC荧光团的荧光猝灭。猝灭效率与pH变化有关。还证明了该传感器用于监测pH变化的适用性。