Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Qian Zhuang, Meiqiong Ge, Xiaodong Yu, Jing Chai, Lu Zhang, Suming Tang, Hua Wei, Jinxin Zhang, Guojie Zhao
Summary: Rolling circle amplification (RCA) is a widely used biosensing technique. However, the effects of secondary structures on RCA efficiency have not been well studied. This study found that stems in circular templates strongly inhibit RCA, and the primer-stem distance is the cause of this inhibition. Based on these findings, a new nucleic acid detection method was proposed, which has increased sensitivity and convenient visualization. The initiation inhibition of RCA could be helpful for promising detection techniques.
ACTA BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA SINICA
(2023)
Article
Food Science & Technology
Yuling Wang, Cheng Peng, Lin Ding, Zhixun Su, Xiaoyun Chen, Xiaofu Wang, Meihao Sun, Junfeng Xu
Summary: We developed a fluorescence visualization detection method based on PCR and CRISPR/Cas12a approaches for detecting the nopaline synthase terminator (T-nos) in genetically modified crops. The method has high sensitivity and stability, and does not require expensive instruments or technicians, making it suitable for mass detection of transgenic components in plants in the field.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Xinyi Li, Song Chen, Qian Liu, Yonglan Luo, Xuping Sun
Summary: This study introduced the use of two-dimensional hexagonal boron nitride nanosheet as a nanoquencher for fluorescence detection of microRNA, showing narrow band gap and high conductivity. By combining it with FAM dye-labeled ssDNA, a low detection limit and rapid response were achieved, demonstrating excellent selectivity and potential application prospects in nucleotide polymorphism detection.
CHEMICAL COMMUNICATIONS
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Tina Y. Liu, Gavin J. Knott, Dylan C. J. Smock, John J. Desmarais, Sungmin Son, Abdul Bhuiya, Shrutee Jakhanwal, Noam Prywes, Shreeya Agrawal, Maria Diaz de Leon Derby, Neil A. Switz, Maxim Armstrong, Andrew R. Harris, Emeric J. Charles, Brittney W. Thornton, Parinaz Fozouni, Jeffrey Shu, Stephanie Stephens, G. Renuka Kumar, Chunyu Zhao, Amanda Mok, Anthony T. Iavarone, Arturo M. Escajeda, Roger McIntosh, Shin E. Kim, Eli J. Dugan, Katherine S. Pollard, Ming X. Tan, Melanie Ott, Daniel A. Fletcher, Liana F. Lareau, Patrick D. Hsu, David F. Savage, Jennifer A. Doudna
Summary: The direct, amplification-free detection of RNA through CRISPR nucleases enables rapid and sensitive RNA detection, particularly suitable for point-of-care infection diagnosis.
NATURE CHEMICAL BIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Analytical
Shaochun Jing, Qiang Liu, Yan Jin, Baoxin Li
Summary: The study identified the G4 dimer as a unique structure with enhanced fluorescence intensity of ThT, showing potential applications in label-free DNA detection. The findings also demonstrated the utility of G4 dimer/ThT as a fluorescence indicator in biosensing strategies.
ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
(2021)
Review
Food Science & Technology
Tai-Yong Kim, Xiaoning Zhu, Se-Min Kim, Jeong-A Lim, Min-Cheol Lim, Ke Luo
Summary: Viruses are major pathogens in food poisoning, and the development of foodborne virus detection technologies for the entire food distribution chain is crucial for food safety. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is the gold standard method for monitoring food contamination by viruses, but it is time-consuming and vulnerable to inhibitors in food samples. Optical and electrical readout biosensors based on nucleic acid isothermal amplification technology and nanomaterials have emerged as alternatives, offering portability and on-site operation. However, the complexity of food components and lack of stability studies on residual food components limit the practical application of biosensors as a universal detection method.
FOOD RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL
(2023)
Article
Agriculture, Multidisciplinary
Ruiyuan Pan, Jianghua Liu, Panxue Wang, Di Wu, Jian Chen, Yongning Wu, Guoliang Li
Summary: This study proposes an ultrasensitive surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) biosensor driven by CRISPR/Cas12a for on-site nucleic acid detection. The biosensor achieves precise target DNA recognition and signal amplification through specific base pairing and efficient trans-cleavage capability of CRISPR/Cas12a. The strategy exhibits an ultralow detection limit and is successfully applied to milk authenticity detection.
JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL AND FOOD CHEMISTRY
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Analytical
Gangpei Cai, Yuxin Huang, Bailiang Chen, Yuemin Shen, Xiaolu Shi, Bo Peng, Shengli Mi, Jiajun Huang
Summary: Modular integration of functional components on the chip and real-time alteration in the force direction of droplets optimizes centrifugal microfluidic systems and allows for passive components, compact modules, and high-throughput control. A novel centrifugal microfluidic system is introduced to improve chip control freedom and accuracy while facilitating the design and addition of passive functional components. The system is modularized to shorten design and optimization cycles and achieve chip reusability and multi-threaded control. Testing the nucleic acid purification and detection reactions on the modular chip verifies its feasibility for high-throughput nucleic acid screening.
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Marta Broto, Michael M. Kaminski, Christopher Adrianus, Nayoung Kim, Robert Greensmith, Schan Dissanayake-Perera, Alexander J. Schubert, Xiao Tan, Hyemin Kim, Anand S. Dighe, James J. Collins, Molly M. Stevens
Summary: This study combines CRISPR-Cas reaction with nanozyme-linked ELISA to achieve quantitative detection of Cas13-mediated RNA detection through catalytic metallic nanoparticles at room temperature (CrisprZyme). The study shows that CrisprZyme is adaptable to lateral flow reading and different Cas enzymes, and can detect various non-coding RNAs. The platform can be used to identify disease patients and monitor cellular differentiation. CrisprZyme can serve as a universally applicable signal catalyst for CRISPR-based diagnostics, expanding the target range of preamplification-free, quantitative detection.
NATURE NANOTECHNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Analytical
Wanqiu Huang, Zhaoqi Zhang, Dachuan Lin, Yuliang Deng, Xinchun Chen, Jian Huang
Summary: We proposed a novel RT-nestRPA technique for SARS-CoV-2 detection, which is a rapid RNA detection technique with ultra-high sensitivity. The RT-nestRPA technology has a sensitivity of 0.5 copies/uL of synthetic RNA targeting the ORF7a/7b/8 gene or 1 copy/uL synthetic RNA targeting the N gene of SARS-CoV-2. The entire detection process of RT-nestRPA only takes 20 min.
ANALYTICA CHIMICA ACTA
(2023)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Pooja Bhardwaj, Rajni Kant, Sthita Pragnya Behera, Gaurav Raj Dwivedi, Rajeev Singh
Summary: This article emphasizes the importance of CRISPR/Cas technology as a diagnostic tool for early management, diagnosis, and treatment of infections and diseases, and explores its detection capabilities for non-nucleic acid targets as well as the technical challenges and improvements in clinical assessment.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Biology
Hajime Shinoda, Tatsuya Iida, Asami Makino, Mami Yoshimura, Junichiro Ishikawa, Jun Ando, Kazue Murai, Katsumi Sugiyama, Yukiko Muramoto, Masahiro Nakano, Kotaro Kiga, Longzhu Cui, Osamu Nureki, Hiroaki Takeuchi, Takeshi Noda, Hiroshi Nishimasu, Rikiya Watanabe
Summary: opn-SATORI is an automated amplification-free digital RNA detection platform that utilizes CRISPR-Cas13a and microchamber device to complete the detection process from sample mixing to RNA quantification in a short period of time. It is capable of detecting SARS-CoV-2 genomic RNA with a low limit of detection and discriminating between variants with high accuracy.
COMMUNICATIONS BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Analytical
Yao Li, Sha Liu, Yuanyuan Wang, Yue Wang, Song Li, Nongyue He, Yan Deng, Zhu Chen
Summary: This article presents a comprehensive design scheme for a rapid automated nucleic acid extraction system based on magnetic separation. The study and evaluation of the system demonstrate its high temperature stability, positioning accuracy, and nucleic acid recovery rate. The system is capable of extracting highly pure nucleic acids from different samples, meeting the requirements of genetic-level research.
Review
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Zahra Hassani Nejad, Fataneh Fatemi, Seyed Ehsan Ranaei Siadat
Summary: Diagnostic testing is crucial in controlling and studying the COVID-19 pandemic. This review discusses various approaches, including nucleic acid and antibody tests, and provides guidelines for more accurate testing.
JOURNAL OF PHARMACEUTICAL ANALYSIS
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Liangxi Zhu, Jingzhou Zhao, Yile Fang, Zhukang Guo, Maonan Wang, Nongyue He
Summary: This study presents the development of a portable nucleic acid detection system that can achieve fast and efficient real-time detection, successfully distinguishing positive and negative samples of clinical hepatitis B virus. The system extends the application of PCR technology and provides ideas for developing new virus detection systems.
Article
Polymer Science
Mahmoud H. Othman, Yoshihiro Ito, Jun Akimoto
Summary: In this study, water-soluble and highly antibiofouling polymers were synthesized and immobilized on polystyrene surfaces via photoirradiation. These polymers showed excellent solubility in water and suppressed nonspecific interactions between proteins and cells on the substrate, making them useful for biomaterial preparation.
Article
Materials Science, Biomaterials
Liang-Chun Wu, Seiichi Tada, Takashi Isoshima, Takeshi Serizawa, Yoshihiro Ito
Summary: Photo-reactive polymers are essential for biomaterials and have been employed for immobilizing growth factors. Different types of photo-reactive polymers were synthesized and their properties were analyzed. The study found that cell adhesion was influenced by the nature of photo-reactive polymers, while cell growth depended on the amount of immobilized growth factors and the properties of photo-reactive polymers.
JOURNAL OF MATERIALS CHEMISTRY B
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Analytical
Ren-Qi Wang, Ye Geng, Juan-Na Song, Huai-Dong Yu, Kai Bao, Yu-Ru Wang, Jean-Philippe Croue, Hideyuki Miyatake, Yoshihiro Ito, Yan-Ru Liu, Yong-Mei Chen
Summary: This study develops a biogenic solution map based on a 4D fingerprinting method to accurately discriminate and classify unknown species. It allows visualization of the similarities and disparities in molecular compositions of biogenic solutions, as well as the intrinsic correlations and subtle variations among them.
ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Fumitaka Hashiya, Hirotaka Murase, Akash Chandela, Haruka Hiraoka, Masahito Inagaki, Yuko Nakashima, Naoko Abe, Mayu Nakamura, Goro Terai, Yasuaki Kimura, Kaori Ando, Natsuhisa Oka, Kiyoshi Asai, Hiroshi Abe
Summary: Controlling PCR fidelity is crucial in molecular biology, and high-fidelity PCR is essential for gene cloning. While most studies focus on protein engineering of polymerases for fidelity control, this report explores the use of chemically modified nucleotide substrates. The modification on P-gamma of nucleotide substrates was found to affect PCR fidelity, with deoxyadenosine tetraphosphate enhancing one mutation type and deoxyguanosine tetraphosphate suppressing another. By using excess amounts of deoxyguanosine tetraphosphate, both mutations were successfully suppressed, leading to improved overall fidelity.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Masahito Inagaki, Naoko Abe, Zhenmin Li, Yuko Nakashima, Susit Acharyya, Kazuya Ogawa, Daisuke Kawaguchi, Haruka Hiraoka, Ayaka Banno, Zheyu Meng, Mizuki Tada, Tatsuma Ishida, Pingxue Lyu, Kengo Kokubo, Hirotaka Murase, Fumitaka Hashiya, Yasuaki Kimura, Satoshi Uchida, Hiroshi Abe
Summary: Starting with the clinical application of two vaccines in 2020, mRNA therapeutics are currently being investigated for various applications. Removing uncapped mRNA is important in mRNA research and clinical applications. This study developed a method to separate capped mRNA from uncapped mRNA using hydrophobic photocaged tag-modified cap analogs, achieving 100% capping efficiency. It was found that the Cap-2-type mRNA showed higher translational activity compared to the Cap-1-type mRNA prepared by the standard capping method.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Osama R. M. Metawea, Miyuki Nara, Takeharu Murakami, Satoshi Wada, Katsushi Fujii, Yoshihiro Ito, Masuki Kawamoto
Summary: A highly efficient single-walled carbon nanotube electrocatalyst, loaded with platinum nanoparticles using a newly developed suspension method, exhibits low overpotential for hydrogen evolution and shows high mass activity in a PEM electrolyzer.
ADVANCED MATERIALS INTERFACES
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Jyorthana Rajappa Muralidhar, Krishnachary Salikolimi, Kiyohiro Adachi, Daisuke Hashizume, Koichi Kodama, Takuji Hirose, Yoshihiro Ito, Masuki Kawamoto
Summary: We report an organic-inorganic halide perovskite compound that can chemically store ammonia through dynamic structural transformation. This compound undergoes a chemical structure change from a one-dimensional columnar structure to a two-dimensional layered structure upon NH3 uptake through addition reaction. The estimated NH3 uptake is 10.2 mmol g(-1) at 1 bar and 25℃. NH3 extraction can be performed by a condensation reaction at 50℃ under vacuum. X-ray diffraction analysis reveals that reversible NH3 uptake/extraction originates from a cation/anion exchange reaction. These findings demonstrate the potential of integrating efficient uptake and extraction in a hybrid perovskite compound through chemical reaction, paving the way for further exploration of dynamic and reversible compounds for chemical storage of NH3.
JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY
(2023)
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Osama R. M. Metawea, Miyuki Nara, Takeharu Murakami, Hirotaka Okabe, Naoki Matsuda, Satoshi Wada, Katsushi Fujii, Yoshihiro Ito, Masuki Kawamoto
Summary: Proton exchange membrane (PEM) water electrolysis is a promising method for clean hydrogen production. A new approach using aqueous-dispersed PtNPs as a dispersant for carbon nanomaterials (CNMs) is reported, resulting in efficient PtNP/CNM composites. The PtNP/SWCNT nanocomposite exhibits a mass activity of 89,300 A g(Pt) (-1), 270 times higher than that of Pt/C.
ACS APPLIED NANO MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Avanashiappan Nandakumar, Yoshihiro Ito, Motoki Ueda
Summary: A disulfide-tethered peptide-lipid conjugate can self-assemble into a homogeneously distributed peptide-lipid hybrid vesicle. Treatment with dithiothreitol causes the homogeneous peptide-lipid membrane to spontaneously separate into lipid-rich and peptide-rich domains, while the vesicle remains unchanged in size and shape. Membrane phase separation enhances temperature-dependent cargo release.
CHEMICAL COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Materials Science, Biomaterials
Mohamed S. S. Elafify, Toru Itagaki, Nermeen A. A. Elkasabgy, Sinar Sayed, Yoshihiro Ito, Motoki Ueda
Summary: The development of stimuli-responsive transformable biomaterials can be effectively controlled by adjusting the molecular design of their structural segments. In this study, we demonstrate a peptide assembly that exhibits morphological transformations between hydrophilic and hydrophobic morphologies. The hydrophobic α-helical unit precisely controls the packing and induces the formation of tubules in the assembly. By analyzing membrane fluidity and the surrounding environment of the assembly, we clarify that the vesicle is kinetically stable while the nanotube is thermodynamically stable.
BIOMATERIALS SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Materials Science, Biomaterials
Kun Fang, Stefan Muller, Motoki Ueda, Yasuhiro Nakagawa, Katsuko Furukawa, Takashi Ushida, Toshiyuki Ikoma, Yoshihiro Ito
Summary: Fibroblasts confined by gelatin micropatterns and subjected to cyclic stretch showed significant changes in cell morphology. Non-patterned cells exhibited increasing length and decreasing area under the stretch. The width of the micropatterns provided different contact guidance for fibroblasts, resulting in varied cell behaviors under cyclic stretch. Vertical stretch induced a greater increase in cell area and length compared to parallel stretch. These findings provide insights into cell behaviors under geometrical confinement in a dynamic biomechanical environment and can guide biomaterial design for tissue engineering.
JOURNAL OF MATERIALS CHEMISTRY B
(2023)
Review
Materials Science, Biomaterials
Xiaoyu Guan, Bingyuan Zhang, Zequn Wang, Qingxin Han, Meng An, Motoki Ueda, Yoshihiro Ito
Summary: Tannins, natural plant polyphenols, are widely used in various fields, especially in biomedical applications. However, their water solubility limits their use in specific applications, making separation and regeneration difficult. Tannin-immobilized composites, inspired by composite materials, combine the advantages of each component, allowing for expanded applications in different fields.
JOURNAL OF MATERIALS CHEMISTRY B
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Organic
Shogo Hasegawa, Masahito Inagaki, Shunichi Kato, Zhenmin Li, Yasuaki Kimura, Hiroshi Abe
Summary: We present a novel approach for synthesizing nucleoside oligophosphates by electrophilic activation of 5'-phosphorothioate nucleotides. Treatment of phosphorothioate with 2,4-dinitrochlorobenzene (DNCB) efficiently produced electrophilic thioester nucleotides (EPT-Ns), which were then coupled with various phosphate reagents to yield the desired nucleoside oligophosphates, including an mRNA cap analog.
ORGANIC & BIOMOLECULAR CHEMISTRY
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Toshinobu Nakajo, Shinpei Kusaka, Haruka Hiraoka, Kohei Nomura, Noriaki Matsubara, Rintaro Baba, Yuki Yoshida, Kosuke Nakamoto, Masakazu Honma, Hiroaki Iguchi, Takayuki Uchihashi, Hiroshi Abe, Ryotaro Matsuda
Summary: We developed an equimolar conjugate of a metal-organic cage (MOC) and DNA (MOC-DNA). By coordinating with a template DNA, several MOC-DNA conjugates were assembled into a programmed structure. Additionally, the conjugation with MOC greatly enhanced the permeability of DNA through lipid bilayer, showing promising potential as a drug delivery system.
CHEMICAL COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Rabab A. Husseini, Naoko Abe, Tomoaki Hara, Hiroshi Abe, Kentaro Kogure
Summary: This study demonstrates the use of iontophoresis for the delivery of a minimal mRNA vaccine, which activates skin resident immune cells and induces tumor clearance, showing potential for melanoma therapy.
BIOLOGICAL & PHARMACEUTICAL BULLETIN
(2023)