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A sensitive and simple signal-on electrochemical assay for detection of Dam methyltransferase (MTase) activity based on DNA-functionalized gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) amplification coupled with enzyme-linkage reactions is presented. This new assay takes advantage of the steric hindrance of AuNPs and the electrostatic repulsion between the negative-charge phosphate backbones of DNA modified on the AuNPs and redox probe [Fe(CN)(6)](3-/4-). In this method, the self-assembled ssDNA on the electrode is hybridized with its complement ssDNA modified on AuNPs to form dsDNA AuNPs bioconjugates containing specific recognition sequence of Dam MTase and methylation-sensitive restriction endonuclease Dpn I. Then, the AuNPs approach to the electrode and result in blockage of electronic transmission. It is eT OFF state. In the presence of Dam MTase and Dpn I, the specific sequence is methylated and cleavaged, which in turn release the DNA modified AuNPs from the electrode surface allowing free exchange of electrons. It generates a measurable electrochemical signal (eT ON). Differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) is employed to detect the recover current, which is related to the concentration of the Dam MTase. This method is simple, sensitive, nonradioactive and without use of gel-electrophoresis, PCR or chromatographic separation. Under optimized conditions, a linear response to concentration of Dam MTase range from 0.2U/mL to 10 U/mL and a detection limit of 0.12 U/mL are obtained. Furthermore, our new assay is a promising method to detect Dam MTase in the Luria-Bertani (LB) medium, as well as to screen inhibitors or drugs for Dam MTase., (Copyright © 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

A sensitive and specific electrochemical assay for detection of thrombin based on aptamer and ferrocenylhexanethiol loaded silica nanocapsules (FcSH/SiNCs) amplification is described. In the protocol, a double aptamer sandwich structure was formed in the presence of thrombin, in which an aptamer-labeled FcSH/SiNCs for electrochemical detection, and a streptavidin-coated magnetic bead immobilized aptamer for rapid and specific separation of target protein. After separated from the sample mixture under a magnetic field, the sandwich complex was treated with NaOH to release the loaded ferrocenylhexanethiol (FcSH) from the silica nanocapsules (SiNCs). Differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) was employed to detect the released FcSH, which was related to the concentration of the thrombin. The method took advantage of sandwich binding of two affinity aptamers for increased specificity, high payload of FcSH in SiNCs for signal amplification, magnetic beads for fast magnetic separation. The peak current of released FcSH had a good linear relationship with the thrombin concentration in the range of 0.1-5 nmol/L, and the detection limit of thrombin in the method was 0.06 nmol/L. The detection was also specific for thrombin without being affected by other proteins, such as immunoglobulin G, bovine serum albumin, lysozyme and human serum albumin. The method has been used to detect thrombin in human serum albumin with minimum background interference., (Crown Copyright © 2011. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

An electrochemical method for nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD(+)) detection with high sensitivity and selectivity has been developed by using molecular beacon (MB)-like DNA and Escherichia coli DNA ligase. In this method, MB-like DNA labeled with 5'-SH and 3'-biotin was self-assembled onto a gold electrode in its duplex form by means of facile gold-thiol chemistry, which resulted in blockage of electronic transmission. It was eT OFF state. In the presence of NAD(+), E. coli DNA ligase was activated, and the two nucleotide fragments which were complementary to the loop of the MB-like DNA could be ligated by the NAD(+)-dependent E. coli DNA ligase. Hybridization of the ligated DNA with the MB-like DNA induced a large conformational change in this surface-confined DNA structure, which in turn pushed the biotin away from the electrode surface and made the electrons exchange freely with the electrode. Then the generated electrochemical signals can be measured by differential pulse voltammetry (DPV). Under optimized conditions, a linear response to logarithmic concentration of NAD(+) range from 3 nM to 5 μM and a detection limit of 1.8 nM were obtained. Furthermore, the proposed strategy had sufficient selectivity to discriminate NAD(+) from its analogues., (Crown Copyright © 2010. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

A sensitive and selective ligase-based signal-on electrochemical sensing method for adenosine-5'-triphosphate (ATP) detection had been developed using molecular beacon (MB)-like DNA. In this method, the biotin-tagged MB-like DNA was self-assembled onto a gold electrode to form a stem-loop structure by means of facile gold-thiol chemistry, which resulted in blockage of electronic transmission. It was eT OFF state. In the presence of ATP, two nucleotide fragments which were complementary to the loop of the MB-like DNA could be ligated by the ATP-dependent T4 DNA ligase. Hybridization of the ligated DNA with the MB-like DNA induced a significant conformational change in this surface-confined DNA structure, which in turn released the biotin from the surface allowing free exchange of electrons with the electrode generating a measurable electrochemical signal (eT ON). The resulting change in electron transfer efficiency was readily measured by differential pulse voltammetry at target ATP concentrations as low as 0.05 nM and with linear response range from 0.1 to 1000 nM. Moreover, it was also able to discriminate ATP from its analogues. The proposed method had been successfully applied to the determination of ATP in the Escherichia coli O157:H7 extracts of water samples, and the linear response was found between the concentrations of 10(3) and 10(7) cfu/mL., (2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)