Methods for Strand-Specific DNA Detection with Cationic Conjugated Polymers Suitable for Incorporation Into DNA Chips and Microarrays
Methods for strand-specific DNA detection with cationic conjugated polymers suitable for incorporation into DNA chips and microarrays Bin Liu† and Guillermo C. Bazan† Departments of Chemistry and Biochemistry and Materials, Institute for Polymers and Organic Solids, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA 93106 Communicated by Alan J. Heeger, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA, November 17, 2004 (received for review October 11, 2004) A strand-specific DNA sensory method is described based on green) to the PNA sequence. The PNA-C* and the ssDNA are surface-bound peptide nucleic acids and water-soluble cationic first treated according to hybridization protocols, and the CCP conjugated polymers. The main transduction mechanism operates is added to the resulting solution. If the ssDNA does not by taking advantage of the net increase in negative charge at hybridize, one encounters situation A in Scheme 1, where the the peptide nucleic acid surface that occurs upon single-stranded ssDNA and the CCP are brought together by nonspecific elec- DNA hybridization. Electrostatic forces cause the oppositely trostatic forces. The PNA-C* is not incorporated into the charged cationic conjugated polymer to bind selectively to the ‘‘com- electrostatic complex. Situation B in Scheme 1 shows that when plementary’’ surfaces. This approach circumvents the current need the PNA-C* and the complementary ssDNA hybridize, the CCP to label the probe or target strands. The polymer used in these binds to the duplex structure. If the optical properties of the assays is poly[9,9-bis(6-N,N,N-trimethylammonium)hexyl)fluorene- CCP and the C* are optimized, then selective excitation of the co-alt-4,7-(2,1,3-benzothiadiazole) dibromide], which was specifi- CCP results in very efficient FRET to C*.
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