We show here that hybridization-linked changes in the dynamics of a redox-modified, electrode-bound linear (as opposed to stem-loop) probe DNA produce large changes in Faradaic current, allowing for the ready detection of target oligonucleotides.

Fluorescence microscopy allows specific target detection down to the level of single molecules and has become an enabling tool in biological research. To transduce the biological information to an imageable signal, we have developed a variety of fluorescent probes, such as organic dyes or fluorescent proteins with different colors. Despite their success, a limitation on constructing small fluor...

This review analyses the literature concerning non-fluorescent and fluorescent probes for nucleic acid imaging in fixed and living cells from the point of view of their suitability for imaging intracellular native RNA and DNA. Attention is mainly paid to fluorescent probes for fluorescence microscopy imaging. Requirements for the target-binding part and the fluorophore making up the probe are f...

DNA chips have proven to be effective tools in detecting gene expression levels. Compared with DNA chips Abstract using complementary DNA as probes, oligonucleotide microarrays using oligonucleotides as probes have attracted great attention because of their well known advantages. The design of gene-specific probes for each target is essential to the development of oligonucleotide microarrays. W...

We have constructed light-up probes for nucleic acid detection. The light-up probe is a peptide nucleic acid (PNA) oligonucleotide to which the asymmetric cyanine dye thiazole orange (TO) is tethered. It combines the excellent hybridization properties of PNA and the large fluorescence enhancement of TO upon binding to DNA. When the PNA hybridizes to target DNA, the dye binds and becomes fluores...

INTRODUCTION Urinary tract infections are predominant diseases which may be caused by different pathogenic microorganisms, particularly Escherichia coli (E.coli). DNA microarray technology is an accurate, rapid, sensitive, and specific diagnostic tool which may lead to definite diagnosis and treatment of several infectious diseases. DNA microarray is a multi-process method in which probe design...

To reveal nucleic acid localization in mitochondria, we designed molecular beacon fluorescent probes against: i) the light strand complementary to ND5 mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) gene (annealing also to corresponding mRNA); ii) displacement (D) loop 7S DNA (annealing also to parallel heavy strand mtDNA and corresponding light strand transcript); iii) the proximal D-loop heavy strand displaced by ...

A sensitive and rapid method for detecting fluorescent dyes at low concentrations in homogenous solution is experimentally demonstrated. Fluorescent-labeled DNA probes are detected by attaching magnetic beads and applying alternating magnetic field gradient. This condenses the fluorescent probes into a small detection volume and eliminates the scattering noise from solution by synchronous detec...

DNA nanotechnology has reported a wide range of structurally tunable scaffolds with precise control over their size, shape and mechanical properties. One promising application these nanodevices is as probes for protein function or determination structure. In this perspective we cover several recent examples in field, including determining the effect ligand spacing multivalency on cell activatio...

Early identification of pathogens is essential for limiting development of therapy-resistant pathogens and mitigating infectious disease outbreaks. Most bacterial detection schemes use target-specific probes to differentiate pathogen species, creating time and cost inefficiencies in identifying newly discovered organisms. We present a novel universal microbial diagnostics (UMD) platform to scre...