Non-radioactive hybridization probes prepared by the chemical labelling of DNA and RNA with a novel reagent, photobiotin.

A photo-activatable analogue of biotin, N-(4-azido-2-nitrophenyl)-N'-(N-d-biotinyl-3-aminopropyl)-N'-methyl-1,3- propanediamine (photobiotin), has been synthesized and used for the rapid and reliable preparation of large amounts of stable, non-radioactive, biotin-labelled DNA and RNA hybridization probes. Upon brief irradiation with visible light, photobiotin formed stable linkages with single- and double-stranded nucleic acids yielding probes which were purified from excess reagent by 2-butanol extraction and ethanol precipitation. Using single-stranded phage M13 DNA probes chemically labelled with one biotin per 100-400 residues and dot-blot hybridization reactions on nitrocellulose, as little as 0.5 pg (6 X 10(-18) mol) of target DNA was detected colorimetrically by avidin or streptavidin complexes with acid or alkaline phosphatase from three commercial sources. The sensitivity of detection of target RNA in dot-blots and Northern blots was equivalent to that obtained with 32p-labelled DNA probes. Photobiotin was also used for the labelling of proteins with biotin.     

Membrane protein binding to the origin region of Bacillus subtilis.

Binding of membrane proteins extracted from Bacillus subtilis to an 11.6-kilobase region containing the origin of replication was examined by Western blotting (protein blotting) procedures. Two adjacent origin probes in the double-stranded form (spanning a length of 4 kilobases) were found to bind very strongly to a 63-kilodalton (kDa) protein in that they resisted dissociation after a high-concentration salt wash. This region encompasses both a site implicated in initiation in vivo and a gene coding for a DNA gyrase subunit (gyrA). In contrast, flanking origin and nonorigin double-stranded probes were dissociated after washing with a high salt concentration. Another protein of 67 kDa bound less intensely to the putative initiation site but not to the gyrA region. All of the origin and nonorigin probes in the double- or single-stranded form were found to bind nonspecifically to a subset of 10 to 12 proteins of 50 to 60 separated by gel electrophoresis after a low-concentration salt wash. They ranged in size from 14 to over 100 kDa (including 63 kDa). However, in contrast to the double-stranded forms, most of the single-stranded probes resisted dissociation from the protein subset after a high-concentration salt wash.     

On-chip biosensing of estrogen receptor-α at single molecular level

A novel method for detecting interaction between DNA and DNA-binding protein at single molecular level has been proposed. In this study, estrogen receptor-alpha (ER-alpha) was used for biosensing as the proof-example. A 518 bp-long (ca. 176 nm) DNA probe labeled with streptavidin at its 5'-terminus was prepared by inserting a consensus oligonucleotide sequence that binds to ER-alpha. A solution containing ER-alpha was dropped onto the Ni-treated mica substrate on which the DNA prove was previously immobilized, and it was observed by AFM. Specific binding of ER-alpha could be observed by measuring the distance between the site where binding occur, to the streptavidin label.     

On-chip biosensing of estrogen receptor-alpha at single molecular level

A novel method for detecting interaction between DNA and DNA-binding protein at single molecular level has been proposed. In this study, estrogen receptor-alpha (ER-alpha) was used for biosensing as the proof-example. A 518 bp-long (ca. 176 nm) DNA probe labeled with streptavidin at its 5'-terminus was prepared by inserting a consensus oligonucleotide sequence that binds to ER-alpha. A solution containing ER-alpha was dropped onto the Ni-treated mica substrate on which the DNA prove was previously immobilized, and it was observed by AFM. Specific binding of ER-alpha could be observed by measuring the distance between the site where binding occur, to the streptavidin label.     

Padlock oligonucleotides as a tool for labeling superhelical DNA

Labeling of a covalently closed circular double-stranded DNA was achieved using a so-called ‘padlock oligonucleotide’. The oligonucleotide was targeted to a sequence which is present in the replication origin of phage f1 and thus in numerous commonly used plasmids. After winding around the double-stranded target DNA sequence by ligand-induced triple helix formation, a biotinylated oligonucleotide was circularized using T4 DNA ligase and in this way became catenated to the plasmid. A gel shift assay was developed to measure the extent of plasmid modification by the padlock oligonucleotide. A similar assay showed that a modified supercoiled plasmid was capable of binding one streptavidin molecule thanks to the biotinylated oligonucleotide and that this binding was quantitative. The catenated complex was visualized by electron and atomic force microscopies using streptavidin conjugates or single strand-binding proteins as protein tags for the padlock oligonucleotide. This method provides a versatile tool for plasmid functionalization which offers new perspectives in the physical study of supercoiled DNA and in the development of improved vectors for gene therapy.     

Electron microscopy mapping of oligopurine tracts in duplex DNA by peptide nucleic acid targeting.

Biotinylated homopyrimidine decamer peptide nucleic acids (PNAs) are shown to form sequence-specific and stable complexes with complementary oligopurine targets in linear double-stranded DNA. The noncovalent complexes are visualized by electron microscopy (EM) without chemical fixation using streptavidin as an EM marker. The triplex stoichiometry of the PNA-DNA complexes (two PNA molecules presumably binding by Watson-Crick and Hoogsteen pairing with one of the strands of the duplex DNA) is indicated by the appearance of two streptavidin 'beads' per target site in some micrographs, and is also supported by the formation of two retardation bands in a gel shift assay. Quantitative analysis of the positions of the streptavidin 'beads' revealed that under optimized conditions PNA-DNA complexes are preferably formed with the fully complementary target. An increase in either the PNA concentration or the incubation time leads to binding at sites containing one or two mismatches. Our results demonstrate that biotinylated PNAs can be used for EM mapping of short targets in duplex DNA.     

Affinity capture of specific DNA fragments with short synthetic sequences

The ability of short peptide nucleic acid (PNA) oligomers and oligonucleotides containing modified residues of 5-methylcitidine, 2-aminoadenosine, and 5-propynyl-2′-deoxyuridine (strong binding oligonucleotides, SBO) to affinity capture the target double-stranded DNA fragment from mixture by means of the end invasion was compared. Both types of probes were highly effective at the conditions used. The SBO-based probes may represent a handy and easily prepared alternative to PNA for selection of target DNA fragments in mixtures.     

Self-assembly of DNA-streptavidin nanostructures and their use as reagents in immuno-PCR.

The self-assembly of bis-biotinylated double-stranded DNA and the tetravalent biotin-binding protein streptavidin (STV) have been studied by non-denaturing gel electrophoresis and atomic force microscopy (AFM). The rapid self-assembly reproducibly generated populations of individual oligomeric complexes. Most strikingly, the oligomers predominantly contained bivalent STV molecules bridging two adjacent DNA fragments to form linear nanostructures. Trivalent STV branch points occurred with a lower frequency and the presence of tetravalent STV was scarce. However, valency distribution, size and the exchange dynamics of the supramolecular aggregates were highly sensitive to stoichiometric variations in the relative molar coupling ratio of bis-biotinylated DNA and STV. The largest aggregates were obtained from equimolar amounts while excess STV led to the formation of smaller oligomers appearing as fingerprint-like band patterns in electrophoresis. Excess DNA, however, induces a complete breakdown of the oligomers, likely a consequence of the instability of STV conjugates containing more than two biotinylated DNA fragments. It was demonstrated that the oligomers can further be functionalized, for instance by the coupling of biotinylated immunoglobulins. Both pure and also antibody-modified DNA-STV oligomers were used as reagents in immuno-PCR (IPCR), a highly sensitive detection method for proteins and other antigens. Employment of the supramolecular reagents led to an approximately 100-fold enhanced sensitivity compared to the conventional IPCR procedure.     

Site-specific binding of the 9.5 kilodalton DNA-binding protein ORF80 visualized by atomic force microscopy

Atomic force microscopy (AFM) has been used to examine the binding properties of the DNA-binding protein ORF80 to DNA. ORF80 is a 9.5 kDa protein that binds site-specifically to double-stranded DNA of the sequence TTAA-N(7)-TTAA. Direct sizing of the protein complexes on DNA fragments from the plasmid pRN1 with AFM shows that the protein ORF80 binds preferentially to two positions. These positions agree well with the ORF80 binding sites determined by footprinting analysis. The measurements allow an estimate of the stoichiometry of the DNA-protein complexes. In contrast to previous results, the single-molecule experiments suggest that only a low number of ORF80 molecules bind to a DNA-binding site.     

RecA蛋白介导的三链核酸结构形成及其序列提取

人工合成的单链DNA分子经PCR扩增形成双链DNA分子。将RecA蛋白与生物素标记的寡聚核酸探针序列在ATPγS存在的情况下共同哺育,使RecA蛋白包裹寡聚核酸探针,然后加入含同源序列的上述双链DNA分子经适当环境哺育形成了稳定的局部三链核酸结构。通过加入链亲和素包裹的磁珠吸附生物素化的探针,这样同源双链DNA分子与寡聚核酸探针形成的局部三链核酸结构也被吸附在磁珠上。使用磁分离装置提取这一结构,逐步降低盐离子浓度以洗脱双链DNA分子。将洗脱液中残留的蛋白质去除,经PCR扩增可获得目的DNA序列。同时使用同源探针和非同源探针在其它序列中提取目的DNA序列,结果显示目的DNA序列只被同源探针提取。实验结果显示了这一三链核酸结构形成的序列特异性,并且其稳定性随盐离子浓度降低而下降。提示在这一结构中同源的寡聚核酸单链与双链DNA分子形成了氢键结合,同时提示使用文中描述的方法可以提取特异的序列,用以克隆相应的基因。     

Evaluation of small ligand–protein interaction by ligation reaction with DNA-modified ligand

A method for the evaluation of interactions between protein and ligand using DNA-modified ligands, including signal enhancement of the DNA ligation reactions, is described. For proof of principle, a DNA probe modified by biotin was used. Two DNA probes were prepared with complementary sticky-ends. While one DNA probe was modified at the 5′-end of the sticky-end, the other was not modified. The probes could be ligated together by T4 DNA ligase along the strand without biotin modification. However, in the presence of streptavidin or anti-biotin Fab, the ligation reaction joining the two probes could not occur on either strand.     

Endogenous biotin‐binding proteins: an overlooked factor causing false positives in streptavidin‐based protein detection

Biotinylation is widely used in DNA, RNA and protein probing assays as this molecule has generally no impact on the biological activity of its substrate. During the streptavidin‐based detection of glycoproteins in Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG with biotinylated lectin probes, a strong positive band of approximately 125 kDa was observed, present in different cellular fractions. This potential glycoprotein reacted heavily with concanavalin A (ConA), a lectin that specifically binds glucose and mannose residues. Surprisingly, this protein of 125 kDa could not be purified using a ConA affinity column. Edman degradation of the protein, isolated via cation and anion exchange chromatography, lead to the identification of the band as pyruvate carboxylase, an enzyme of 125 kDa that binds biotin as a cofactor. Detection using only the streptavidin conjugate resulted in more false positive signals of proteins, also in extracellular fractions, indicating biotin‐associated proteins. Indeed, biotin is a known cofactor of numerous carboxylases. The potential occurence of false positive bands with biotinylated protein probes should thus be considered when using streptavidin‐based detection, e.g. by developing a blot using only the streptavidin conjugate. To circumvent these false positives, alternative approaches like detection based on digoxigenin labelling can also be used.