Dramatic increase in the signal and sensitivity of detection <Emphasis Type="Italic">via</Emphasis> self-assembly of branched DNA

In molecular testing using PCR, the target DNA is amplified via PCR and the sequence of interest is investigated via hybridization with short oligonucleotide capture probes that are either in a solution or immobilized on solid supports such as beads or glass slides. In this report, we report the discovery of assembly of DNA complex(es) between a capture probe and multiple strands of the PCR product. The DNA complex most likely has branched structure. The assembly of branched DNA was facilitated by the product of asymmetric PCR. The amount of branched DNA assembled was increased five fold when the asymmetric PCR product was denatured and hybridized with a capture probe all in the same PCR reaction mixture. The major branched DNA species appeared to contain three reverse strands (the strand complementary to the capture probe) and two forward strands. The DNA was sensitive to S1 nuclease suggesting that it had single-stranded gaps. Branched DNA also appeared to be assembled with the capture probes immobilized on the surface of solid support when the product of asymmetric PCR was hybridized. Assembly of the branched DNA was also increased when hybridization was performed in complete PCR reaction mixture suggesting the requirement of DNA synthesis. Integration of asymmetric PCR, heat denaturation and hybridization in the same PCR reaction mixture with the capture probes immobilized on the surface of solid support achieved dramatic increase in the signal and sensitivity of detection of DNA. Such a system should be advantageously applied for development of automated process for detection of DNA.     

Functionalization of poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) as a substrate for DNA microarrays

A chemical procedure was developed to functionalize poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) substrates. PMMA is reacted with hexamethylene diamine to yield an aminated surface for immobilizing DNA in microarrays. The density of primary NH₂ groups was 0.29 nmol/cm². The availability of these primary amines was confirmed by the immobilization of DNA probes and hybridization with a complementary DNA strand. The hybridization signal and the hybridization efficiency of the chemically aminated PMMA slides were comparable to the hybridization signal and the hybridization efficiency obtained from differently chemically modified PMMA slides, silanized glass, commercial silylated glass and commercial plastic Euray™ slides. Immobilized and hybridized densities of 10 and 0.75 pmol/cm², respectively, were observed for microarrays on chemically aminated PMMA. The immobilized probes were heat stable since the hybridization performance of microarrays subjected to 20 PCR heat cycles was only reduced by 4%. In conclusion, this new strategy to modify PMMA provides a robust procedure to immobilize DNA, which is a very useful substrate for fabricating single use diagnostics devices with integrated functions, like sample preparation, treatment and detection using microfabrication and microelectronic techniques.     

基于纳米金复合探针的基因芯片膜转印检测法

建立了一种基于纳米金复合探针的基因芯片膜转印核酸检测新方法。首先,用纳米金颗粒同时标记检测探针P2和两种长短不同且生物素化的信号探针 (T10,T40),其中检测探针与靶DNA 5￠端互补,两种信号探针起信号放大作用。当靶DNA分子存在时,芯片表面捕捉探针P1 (与靶DNA分子3￠端互补) 通过碱基互补配对原则结合靶DNA分子,将其固定于芯片上,同时检测探针通过与靶DNA 5￠端互补配对将纳米金复合探针结合于芯片表面,结果在芯片表面形成“三明治”结构,后通过链霉亲和素-生物素反应,使芯片表面对应有靶DNA分子的部位结合上碱性磷酸酶,最后利用BCIP/NBT显色系统使芯片表面信号结果镜面转印至尼龙膜表面。当检测探针和信号探针摩尔比为1∶10,T10和T40摩尔比为9:1时可以检测1 pmol/L合成靶DNA分子或0.23 pmol/L结核分枝杆菌16S rDNA PCR扩增产物,检测结果通过普通的光学扫描仪读取或肉眼直接判读信号有无。本芯片检测系统灵敏度高,操作方法简单、快速,不需要特殊仪器设备,在生物分子的检测方面具有较高的应用价值。     

A Comparison of Hybridization Efficiency between Flat Glass and Channel Glass Solid Supports

Two different solid supports, channel glass and flat glass, were compared for their affect on the sensitivity and efficiency of DNA hybridization reactions. Both solid supports were tested using a set of arrayed, synthetic oligonucleotides that are designed to detect short insertion/deletion polymorphisms (SIDPs). A total of 13 different human SIDPs were chosen for analysis. Capture probes, designed for this test set, were covalently immobilized on substrates. Hybridization efficiency was assessed using fluorescently labeled stacking probes which were preannealed to the target and then hybridized to the support-bound oligonucleotide array; the hybridization pattern was detected by fluorescence imaging. It was found that structural features of nucleic acid capture probes tethered to a solid support and the molecular basis of their interaction with targets in solution have direct implications on the hybridization process. Our results demonstrate that channel glass has a number of practical advantages over flat glass including higher sensitivity and a faster hybridization rate.     

Evaluation of thin films of agarose on glass for hybridization of DNA to identify plant pathogens with microarray technology

Agarose-coated glass slides, after activation, were spotted with amine-modified oligonucleotide probes using a manual eight-pin arraying device. Two probes, designed to identify two common greenhouse fungal plant pathogens, Didymella bryoniae and Botrytis cinerea, were hybridized with polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-amplified fluorescently labeled DNA extracted from pure culture and from diseased plant tissue. The probes easily distinguished these pathogens from each other without cross reaction. Thickness of the agarose layer and length of the sample DNA were important factors affecting hybridization efficiency of immobilized probe to PCR product. These factors did not affect hybridization with short complementary oligonucleotide. Probes fixed on agarose-coated slides could differentiate samples as readily as probes on nylon but with potentially higher spot density and gave much better signal than probes on silylated slides. The use of plain glass slides, agarose, and a manual arrayer makes this technique useful for developing specialized and inexpensive DNA microarrays on a solid rigid substrate.     

Hybridization of glass-tethered oligonucleotide probes to target strands preannealed with labeled auxiliary oligonucleotides

In this article we introduce a strategy of preanncaling labeled auxiliary oligonucleotides to single-stranded target DNA, prior to hybridization of the DNA target to oligonucleotide arrays (genosensors) formed on glass slides for the purpose of mutation analysis. Human genomic DNA samples from normal individuals and cystic fibrosis (CF) patients (including homozygous δF508 and heterozygous δF508/wild type (wt) in the region examined) were used. A PCR fragment of length 138 bp (wt) or 135 bp (mutant) was produced from exon l0 in the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) gene, using a new pair of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) primers. This fragment contains four of the most frequent mutation sites causing the disease (Q493X, δI507, δF508, and V520F). Each of these mutations was tested using a pair of nonamer (9-mer) probes covalently attached to glass slides, representing the normal (wt) and the mutant allcles. Single-stranded target DNA was isolated from the PCR fragment using one PCR primer labeled with biotin and a streptavidin minicolumn to capture the biotin-labeled strand. Prior to hybridization to the 9-mer array on a glass slide, the unlabeled target strand was preannealed with one, three, or four auxiliary oligonucleotides, at least one being labeled with³²P. As observed previously in several laboratories, the discrimination between normal (wt) and mutant alleles at each site using oligonucleotide array hybridization ranged from very good to poor, depending on the number and location of mismatches between probe and target. Terminal mismatches along the probe were difficult to discriminate, internal mismatches were more easily discriminated, and multiple mismatches were very well discriminated. An exceptionally intense hybridization signal was obtained with a 9-mer probe that hybridized contiguously (in tandem) with one auxiliary oligonucleotide preannealed to the target DNA. The increased stability is apparently caused by strong base slacking interactions between the “capture probe” and the auxiliary oligonucleotide. The presence of the δF508 mutation was delected with this system, including discrimination between homozygous and heterozygous conditions. Base mismatch discrimination using the arrayed 9-mcr probes was improved by increasing the temperature of hybridization from 15 to 25‡C. Auxiliary oligonucleotides, preannealed to the single-stranded template, may serve several purposes to enable a more robust genosensor-based DNA sequence analysis:

Characterization of strand exchange activity of yeast Rad51 protein.

The Saccharomyces cerevisiae RAD51 gene product takes part in genetic recombination and repair of DNA double strand breaks. Rad51, like Escherichia coli RecA, catalyzes strand exchange between homologous circular single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) and linear double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) in the presence of ATP and ssDNA-binding protein. The formation of joint molecules between circular ssDNA and linear dsDNA is initiated at either the 5' or the 3' overhanging end of the complementary strand; joint molecules are formed only if the length of the overhanging end is more than 1 nucleotide. Linear dsDNAs with recessed complementary or blunt ends are not utilized. The polarity of strand exchange depends upon which end is used to initiate the formation of joint molecules. Joint molecules formed via the 5' end are processed by branch migration in the 3'-to-5' direction with respect to ssDNA, and joint molecules formed with a 3' end are processed in the opposite direction.     

Dendrimeric coating of glass slides for sensitive DNA microarrays analysis

Successful use and reliability of microarray technology is highly dependent on several factors, including surface chemistry parameters and accessibility of cDNA targets to the DNA probes fixed onto the surface. Here, we show that functionalisation of glass slides with homemade dendrimers allow production of more sensitive and reliable DNA microarrays. The dendrimers are nanometric structures of size-controlled diameter with aldehyde function at their periphery. Covalent attachment of these spherical reactive chemical structures on amino-silanised glass slides generates a reactive ~100 Å layer onto which amino-modified DNA probes are covalently bound. This new grafting chemistry leads to the formation of uniform and homogenous spots. More over, probe concentration before spotting could be reduced from 0.2 to 0.02 mg/ml with PCR products and from 20 to 5 µM with 70mer oligonucleotides without affecting signal intensities after hybridisation with Cy3- and Cy5-labelled targets. More interestingly, while the binding capacity of captured probes on dendrimer-activated glass surface (named dendrislides) is roughly similar to other functionalised glass slides from commercial sources, detection sensitivity was 2-fold higher than with other available DNA microarrays. This detection limit was estimated to 0.1 pM of cDNA targets. Altogether, these features make dendrimer-activated slides ideal for manufacturing cost-effective DNA arrays applicable for gene expression and detection of mutations.     

Development of array-based technology for detection of HAV using gold-DNA probes

A sensitive method for detection of Hepatitis A virus (HAV) by utilizing gold-DNA probe on an array was developed. Amino-modified oligodeoxynucleotides at the 5' position were arrayed on an activated glass surface to function as capture probes. Sandwich hybridization occurred among capture probes, the HAV amplicon, and gold nanoparticlesupported oligonucleotide probes. After a silver enhancement step, signals were detected by a standard flatbed scanner or just by naked eyes. As little as 100 fM of HAV amplicon could be detected on the array. Therefore, the array technology is an alternative to be applied in detection of HAV due to its low-cost and high-sensitivity.     

Hybridization of single-stranded DNA targets to immobilized complementary DNA probes: comparison of hairpin versus linear capture probes

A microtiter-based assay system is described in which DNA hairpin probes with dangling ends and single-stranded, linear DNA probes were immobilized and compared based on their ability to capture single-strand target DNA. Hairpin probes consisted of a 16 bp duplex stem, linked by a T₂-biotin·dT-T₂ loop. The third base was a biotinylated uracil (U_B) necessary for coupling to avidin coated microtiter wells. The capture region of the hairpin was a 3′ dangling end composed of either 16 or 32 bases. Fundamental parameters of the system, such as probe density and avidin adsorption capacity of the plates were characterized. The target DNA consisted of 65 bases whose 3′ end was complementary to the dangling end of the hairpin or to the linear probe sequence. The assay system was employed to measure the time dependence and thermodynamic stability of target hybridization with hairpin and linear probes. Target molecules were labeled with either a 5′-FITC, or radiolabeled with [γ-³³P]ATP and captured by either linear or hairpin probes affixed to the solid support. Over the range of target concentrations from 10 to 640 pmol hybridization rates increased with increasing target concentration, but varied for the different probes examined. Hairpin probes displayed higher rates of hybridization and larger equilibrium amounts of captured targets than linear probes. At 25 and 45°C, rates of hybridization were better than twice as great for the hairpin compared with the linear capture probes. Hairpin–target complexes were also more thermodynamically stable. Binding free energies were evaluated from the observed equilibrium constants for complex formation. Results showed the order of stability of the probes to be: hairpins with 32 base dangling ends > hairpin probes with l6 base dangling ends > 16 base linear probes > 32 base linear probes. The physical characteristics of hairpins could offer substantial advantages as nucleic acid capture moieties in solid support based hybridization systems.     

Signal amplification of padlock probes by rolling circle replication.

Circularizing oligonucleotide probes (padlock probes) have the potential to detect sets of gene sequences with high specificity and excellent selectivity for sequence variants, but sensitivity of detection has been limiting. By using a rolling circle replication (RCR) mechanism, circularized but not unreacted probes can yield a powerful signal amplification. We demonstrate here that in order for the reaction to proceed efficiently, the probes must be released from the topological link that forms with target molecules upon hybridization and ligation. If the target strand has a nearby free 3' end, then the probe-target hybrids can be displaced by the polymerase used for replication. The displaced probe can then slip off the targetstrand and a rolling circle amplification is initiated. Alternatively, the target sequence itself can prime an RCR after its non-base paired 3' end has been removed by exonucleolytic activity. We found the Phi29 DNA polymerase to be superior to the Klenow fragment in displacing the target DNA strand, and it maintained the polymerization reaction for at least 12 h, yielding an extension product that represents several thousand-fold the length of the padlock probe.     

Fingerprinting of prokaryotic 16S rRNA genes using oligodeoxyribonucleotide microarrays and virtual hybridization

An oligonucleotide microarray hybridization system to differentiate microbial species was designed and tested. Seven microbial species were studied, including one Bacillus and six Pseudomonas strains. DNA sequences near the 5′ end of 16S rRNA genes were aligned and two contiguous regions of high variability, flanked by highly conserved sequences, were found. The conserved sequences were used to design PCR primers which efficiently amplified these polymorphic regions from all seven species. The amplicon sequences were used to design 88 9mer hybridization probes which were arrayed onto glass slides. Single-stranded, fluorescence-tagged PCR products were hybridized to the microarrays at 15°C. The experimental results were compared with the ΔG° values for all matched and mismatched duplexes possible between the synthetic probes and the 16S target sequences of the seven test species, calculated using a ‘virtual hybridization’ software program. Although the observed hybridization patterns differed significantly from patterns predicted solely on the basis of perfect sequence matches, a unique hybridization fingerprint was obtained for each of the species, including closely related Pseudomonas species, and there was a reasonable correlation between the intensity of observed hybridization signals and the calculated ΔG° values. The results suggest that both perfect and mismatched pairings can contribute to microbial identification by hybridization fingerprinting.     

DNA microarrays with unimolecular hairpin double-stranded DNA probes: fabrication and exploration of sequence-specific DNA/protein interactions

We have fabricated double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) microarrays containing unimolecular hairpin dsDNA probes immobilized on glass slides. The unimolecular hairpin dsDNA microarrays were manufactured by four steps: Firstly, synthesizing single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) oligonucleotides with two reverse-complementary sequences at 3' hydroxyl end and an overhang sequence at 5' amino end. Secondly, microspotting ssDNA on glutaraldehyde-derived glass slide to form ssDNA microarrays. Thirdly, annealing two reverse-complementary sequences to form hairpin primer at 3' end of immobilized ssDNA and thus to create partial-dsDNA microarray. Fourthly, enzymatically extending hairpin primer to convert partial-dsDNA microarrays into complete-dsDNA microarray. The excellent efficiency and high accuracy of the enzymatic synthesis were demonstrated by incorporation of fluorescently labeled dUTPs in Klenow extension and digestion of dsDNA microarrays with restriction endonuclease. The accessibility and specificity of the DNA-binding proteins binding to dsDNA microarrays were verified by binding Cy3-labeled NF-kappaB to dsDNA microarrays. The dsDNA microarrays have great potential to provide a high-throughput platform for investigation of sequence-specific DNA/protein interactions involved in gene expression regulation, restriction and so on.     

Analysis of crucial factors resulting in microarray hybridization failure

The factors that affect the formation and stability of DNA/DNA duplexes are complicated and still mostly unknown. In this study attempts were made to look for the crucial factor affecting hybridization failure in DNA microarray assays. A comprehensive range of factors were investigated simultaneously using a 25-mer oligonucleotide Potyvirus microarray. These included steric hindrance, direct/indirect labelling types, distance of a probe to the fluorescent labelling end, target (the DNA fragment used to hybridize with microarray probes) strand types either single strand or double strand, probes without mismatch and with different numbers of mismatch nucleotides (up to 36%) and different mismatch locations (5' end, centre and 3' end), probe GC content and T(m), secondary structures of probes and targets, different target lengths (0.277 kb to ~1.3 kb) and concentrations (0.1-30 nM). The results showed that whilst most of these known factors were unlikely to be the main causes of failed hybridization, there was strong evidence suggesting that the viral amplicon target structure is the most crucial factor. However, computing predicted target secondary structures by Mfold showed no correlation with the hybridization results. One explanation is that the predicted target secondary structures are different from the real structures. Here we postulate that the real target structure might be a combination of secondary structures resulting in a three-dimensional structure from exposure to three types of sub-structures: (1) a completely exposed linear structure to allow probes access for the successful hybridization and showing strong fluorescent signals; (2) a partially exposed structure to allow unstable binding and showing weak fluorescent signals; (3) a closed structure resulting in failed hybridization. These results are very important for microarray based studies as they not only provide an explanation for some current controversial results, but also provide potential resolution for the future studies. Due to the lack of available software for predicting the true target structure, development of microarrays should conduct an initial oligonucleotide probe selection procedure and those probes with capacity to hybridize with the target should be considered for the microarray development.     

Evaluation of a plasmid-based 16S-23S rDNA intergenic spacer region array for analysis of microbial diversity in industrial wastewater

A plasmid-based 16S-23S rDNA intergenic spacer region (ISR) array was developed and optimized for analysis of microbial diversity within complex environmental samples. Plasmid probes with 16S-23S rDNA ISR inserts (800-1500 bp) from industrial wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) microorganisms were arrayed onto glass slides. Hybridization of fluorescently labeled target sequences from two clones from the ISR WWTP library to arrayed probes showed that there was a good linear relationship between hybridization intensity and ISR similarity (r(2)=0.82). Hybridization was highly specific (average background from arrayed probes with less than 80% similarity in ISR sequence was less than 7%). Strong fluorescence intensity corresponded to near-perfect match clones (99% or greater similarity in ISR sequence). A majority of probes (79%) showed no background hybridization. However, weak background (less than 50% for arrayed probes with 90% and 95% similarity in the 16S rRNA genes) was observed from closely related microorganisms. Background fluorescence from the negative control (plasmid vector with no insert) was similar to water and dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO)-negative controls. Hybridization using fluorescently labeled ISR sequences from a mixed community sample produced strong fluorescent signals with no background from negative controls. A Cy5-labeled reference standard, part of the vector and present in every spotted probe, was used to normalize hybridization values. These results indicate that arrayed plasmid containing ISR probe insert sequences provides specificity and sensitivity for microbial community analysis in a high-throughput array format.     

Single nucleotide polymorphism discrimination assisted by improved base stacking hybridization using oligonucleotide microarrays

Efficiencies of mismatch discrimination using size-varied capture probes were examined at various hybridization temperatures. The probes were 17, 15, 13, 11, 9, and 7 nucleotides long and contained single-base mismatches at their 3' ends. The optimal signal intensity and efficiency of base stacking hybridization on mismatch discrimination were observed for capture probes with a melting temperature (Tm) value of 36 degrees C, in the detection of DNA sequence variations at 40 degrees C. We employed asymmetric PCR to prepare single-stranded target DNA labeled with a fluorescent dye, and the PCR product was hybridized on the DNA microarray with no further purification. Our efforts have enhanced the sensitivity and simplified the procedures of base stacking hybridization on mismatch discrimination. As a model experiment, this improved technology was used to identify plasmid templates of human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-A alleles 2601, 2902, and 0206 on oligonucleotide microarrays. It is now possible to apply this simple, rapid, sensitive, and reliable base stacking hybridization technology to detect DNA sequence variations on microarrays in clinical diagnosis and other applications.     

Characterization of an inexpensive, nontoxic, and highly sensitive microarray substrate

An agarose film has been proposed as an efficient substrate for producing microarrays. The original film preparation procedure was simplified significantly by grafting the agarose layer directly onto unmodified microscope glass slides instead of aminated glass slides, and the blocking procedure was replaced with a wash in 0.1x standard saline citrate (SSC) and 0.5% sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) without decreasing the performance of the produced microarrays. Characterization of the grafted agarose film using atomic force microscopy (AFM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) showed that the agarose film had a 10-fold increase in surface roughness compared to glass and that the interior of the agarose film was porous, with pore sizes between 100-500 nm. A comparison of hybridization on aldehyde-activated agarose-coated microarray slides and commercial amino-reactive microarray slides showed that aldehyde-activated agarose-coated slides had the highest signal-to-noise ratio of 850, suggesting that the aldehyde-activated agarose microarray slides are suitable in applications where analytes have a wide concentration range. By immobilizing the DNA probes using ultraviolet (UV) light, the signal-to-noise ratio was further increased to 3000 on the agarose microarray slides. The specificity of the UV cross-linked DNA probes was demonstrated using 21 and 25 bp long capture probes, enabling discrimination of target molecules differing in only one base.     

Homogeneous DNA hybridization assay by using europium luminescence energy transfer

Homogeneous DNA hybridization assay based on luminescence resonance energy transfer (LRET) from a tetradentate beta-diketonate europium chelate, 4,4'-bis(1' ',1' ',1' ',2' ',2' ',3' ',3' '-heptafluoro-4' ',6' '-hexanedion-6' '-yl)-chlorosulfo-o-terphenyl (BHHCT)-Eu(3+) (lambda(ex) = 340 nm and lambda(em) = 615 nm), to an organic dye, Cy5 (lambda(ex) = 643 nm and lambda(em) = 669 nm) has been developed, in which two DNA probes whose sequences comprises the whole complementary strand to the target DNA, are used; one probe having a biotin label on the 3'-terminus and the other a Cy5 label on the 5'-terminus. After hybridization, streptavidin labeled with BHHCT-Eu(3+) was added to the hybridization solution, and in the presence of the target DNA, the sensitized emission of Cy5 was observed when the hybridized complex was irradiated at 340 nm. In the absence of the target DNA, no emission was observed from Cy5.     

Increasing the sensitivity of DNA microarrays by metal-enhanced fluorescence using surface-bound silver nanoparticles

The effects of metal-enhanced fluorescence (MEF) have been measured for two dyes commonly used in DNA microarrays, Cy3 and Cy5. Silver island films (SIFs) grown on glass microscope slides were used as substrates for MEF DNA arrays. We examined MEF by spotting biotinylated, singly-labeled 23 bp DNAs onto avidin-coated SIF substrates. The fluorescence enhancement was found to be dependent on the DNA spotting concentration: below ~12.5 μM, MEF increased linearly, and at higher concentrations MEF remained at a constant maximum of 28-fold for Cy5 and 4-fold for Cy3, compared to avidin-coated glass substrates. Hybridization of singly-labeled oligonucleotides to arrayed single-stranded probes showed lower maximal MEF factors of 10-fold for Cy5 and 2.5-fold for Cy3, because of the smaller amount of immobilized fluorophores as a result of reduced surface hybridization efficiencies. We discuss how MEF can be used to increase the sensitivity of DNA arrays, especially for far red emitting fluorophores like Cy5, without significantly altering current microarray protocols.