Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Dung Thanh Dang, Le Tuan Anh Nguyen, Tuom Tinh Thi Truong, Hoang Duc Nguyen, Anh Tuan Phan
Summary: A novel G-quadruplex (G4)-specific endonuclease was created by fusing a G4 recognition domain from the RHAU helicase with a cleavage domain from the Fok1 nuclease. This fusion protein can bind and cleave a parallel G4 in double-stranded DNA (dsDNA), serving as a useful tool for detecting and mapping G4 formation in the genome.
CHEMICAL COMMUNICATIONS
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Fangyuan Li, Dan Guo, Ting Xie, Sumei Zhang, Anqi Wang, YingXing Li, Jiang Zhou
Summary: It was found that a certain proportion of pre-miRNAs contained potential G-quadruplex forming sequences and acted as a mediator for Dicer-mediated cleavage, suggesting that miRNA production and function could be regulated by the G-quadruplex structure. In this study, the formation of G-quadruplex from human precursor miR-1587 sequences was confirmed and shown to inhibit the maturation of miR-1587, resulting in reduced expression. The destabilization of G-quadruplex led to increased miR-1587 expression and weakened inhibition towards target genes, confirming the importance of maintaining specific structures during miRNA biosynthesis.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL MACROMOLECULES
(2023)
Review
Oncology
Soudeh Ghafouri-Fard, Atefe Abak, Aria Baniahmad, Bashdar Mahmud Hussen, Mohammad Taheri, Elena Jamali, Marcel E. Dinger
Summary: G-quadruplexes are secondary helical structures formed between guanine-rich nucleic acids. They are distributed non-randomly across the genome, particularly in telomeric regions and oncogenic promoter genes. Understanding the regulation of G-quadruplex stability is significant for studying genetic diseases like cancer. Additionally, non-coding RNAs have been found to contain G-quadruplex-forming regions or affect the configuration of these structures in target genes.
CANCER CELL INTERNATIONAL
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Rongxin Zhang, Yajun Liu, Xingxing Zhang, Ke Xiao, Yue Hou, Hongde Liu, Xiao Sun
Summary: The study profiles and depicts RNA G-quadruplexes in the human transcriptome using DMS-seq and bioinformatics pipeline, revealing their significant association with immune pathways and COVID-19-related gene sets. The bioinformatics analysis also suggests potential regulatory functions of G-quadruplexes on miRNA targeting at the whole transcriptome level. Moreover, G-quadruplexes are found to be depleted in putative, but not real, PAS-strong poly(A) sites, weakening their likelihood of being actual cleaved sites.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Anup Pandith, Yongyang Luo, Yul Jang, Jeehyeon Bae, Youngmi Kim
Summary: In this study, a fluorogenic probe CV2 was developed for the selective monitoring of G-quadruplex (G4) structures in living cells. CV2 specifically recognizes parallel G4 DNA and forms self-assembled nanoaggregates with red excimer-emitting fluorescence. The specific binding of CV2 to G4s triggers its disassembly into monomeric dyes, leading to a significant fluorescence enhancement. Moreover, CV2 can selectively stain G4s in mitochondria, making it useful for investigating the potential roles of mitochondrial DNA G4s in diseases involving mitochondrial dysfunction.
ANGEWANDTE CHEMIE-INTERNATIONAL EDITION
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Wenxuan Hu, Haitao Jing, Wenqiang Fu, Zengrong Wang, Jiang Zhou, Na Zhang
Summary: In this study, a new type of G-quadruplex structure, parallel homomeric bimolecular G-quadruplex, was demonstrated to undergo strand displacement reaction with short G-rich DNA fragments at room temperature, resulting in the formation of a parallel heteromeric trimolecular G-quadruplex. This provides new insights into the development of complex architectures in G-quadruplex-based DNA nanotechnology.
JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Nihar Ranjan, Dev P. Arya
Summary: G-quadruplex-forming nucleic acids have diverse applications in biology, drug design, sensing, and nanotechnology. We demonstrate that neomycin can bind to parallel G-quadruplexes with affinities in the range of Ka & SIM; 105-108 M-1, depending on various factors. These findings expand the binding landscape of neomycin and offer new insights for the design of high-affinity neomycin-based G-quadruplex binders.
FRONTIERS IN CHEMISTRY
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Dao Lin, Yongqi Ke, Hongjia Chen, Yinlong Zhang, Xinjing Tang, Wei Cui, Xiangjun Li, Yujian He, Li Wu
Summary: The control of DNA assembly systems on cells is crucial for precise targeted therapies. In this study, a controllable DNA self-assembly system based on the regulation of G-quadruplex DNA topology by a reduction-sensitive azobenzene ligand is reported. The ligand can induce a complete change of G4 topology in a tissue-specific manner, allowing control of the self-assembly of G4-functionalized DNAs on cells.
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Tiago Santos, Andre Miranda, Lionel Imbert, Andreia Jardim, Catarina R. F. Caneira, Virginia Chu, Joao P. Conde, Maria Paula Cabral Campello, Antonio Paulo, Gilmar Salgado, Eurico J. Cabrita, Carla Cruz
Summary: The study revealed that precursor microRNA 149 can form a G-quadruplex structure and recognize and detect nucleolin. This proof-of-concept study could open up a new framework for developing new strategies to design improved molecular receptors for capture and detection of nucleolin in complex biological samples.
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF PHARMACEUTICAL SCIENCES
(2022)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Joana Figueiredo, Tiago Santos, Andre Miranda, Daniela Alexandre, Bernardo Teixeira, Pedro Simoes, Jessica Lopes-Nunes, Carla Cruz
Summary: The presence of RNA G-quadruplexes in non-coding RNAs plays a crucial role in regulating miRNA levels, with the potential to be stabilized by small molecules for therapeutic purposes in gene expression and miRNA biogenesis.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Ettore Napolitano, Claudia Riccardi, Rosa Gaglione, Angela Arciello, Valentina Pirota, Alice Triveri, Filippo Doria, Domenica Musumeci, Daniela Montesarchio
Summary: In order to develop efficient anticancer theranostic systems, the interaction between a cyanine dye (CyOH) and two G-quadruplex-forming aptamers (V7t1 and 3R02) was studied. These aptamers recognized the Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor 165 (VEGF165), which is overexpressed in cancer cells and responsible for the rapid growth and metastases of solid tumors. Biophysical techniques, such as gel electrophoresis, circular dichroism (CD), UV-vis spectroscopy and fluorescence spectroscopy, were used to demonstrate that the cyanine interacted with both aptamers, giving a fluorescence light-up when bound to their dimeric forms. The dimeric G-quadruplexes of the aptamers showed higher affinity for VEGF165 and the fluorescence light-up was maintained when the dimeric aptamer-CyOH complexes bound to the target protein. These complexes, tested on MCF-7 cancer cells with non-tumorigenic MCF-10A cells as control, were effectively internalized in cells and colocalized with a fluorescently-labeled anti-VEGF-A antibody, enabling recognition and detection of the target. The studied systems are promising tools for anticancer theranostic strategies, combining the therapeutic potential of the G4-forming anti-VEGF aptamers with the diagnostic efficacy of the cyanine selective fluorescence light-up.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL MACROMOLECULES
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Analytical
Kosar Shahsavar, Ehsan Shokri, Morteza Hosseini
Summary: A new colorimetric platform based on spherical nucleic acid (SNA) and G-quadruplex DNAzymes has been developed for rapid and sensitive detection of specific miRNAs. The platform utilizes hybridization between target miRNA and capture probes to achieve detection. The method is capable of detecting miRNA-155 at concentrations as low as 0.7 nM and can be applied to real human serum samples.
Article
Chemistry, Applied
Jun-Hui Li, Tian-Zhu Ma, Jia-Luo Fu, Jun-Tao Huang, Meng-Jia Zhang, Pei-Dan You, Chun-Qiong Zhou
Summary: This study proposed two novel bisquinolinium-fluorescein conjugates with different alkyl linkers, showing enhanced fluorescence response and specificity towards c-myc Pu22 G-quadruplex. The compounds selectively recognized c-myc Pu22 G-quadruplex DNA in cells and potentially inhibited cell proliferation by reducing c-myc protein expression.
Article
Chemistry, Analytical
Zhijing Hu, Jing Zhang, Yumei Li, Shuai Song, Chengzhi Feng, Jiahao Wang, Feng Zhang, Jie Wang, Xiaoyan Liu
Summary: Designing a miRNA-21 responsive G-quadruplex-deficient pre-cursor hairpin probe (PHP), this study achieved dual-mode detection of fluorescent signal and colorimetric signal for identifying miRNA biomarkers. The engineered PHP showed shorter length, lower background signal, and less interference. By utilizing polymerase-driven amplification mechanism, the two simultaneous amplification reactions, miRNA-based amplification process and endogenous amplification process, were efficiently conducted. The developed PHP-based method demonstrated high detection sensitivity for both fluorescence and colorimetry, making it suitable for various clinical qualitative and quantitative needs.
Review
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Sagar Bag, Mangal Deep Burman, Sudipta Bhowmik
Summary: G-quadruplex is a unique structure in nucleic acids that exists widely in human genome and has attracted great attention in therapeutic investigations. Targeting G-quadruplex structure is a new strategy for drug development. Flavonoids, which are present in various dietary plant-based products, have shown high pharmacological effectiveness with minimal cytotoxicity, making them potential alternatives to synthetic therapeutic medicines. Research on the interaction between G-quadruplex and flavonoids is expected to provide newer perspectives for the development of novel therapeutic agents.
Article
Biophysics
Reza Khodadadi, Manouchehr Eghbal, Hamideh Ofoghi, Alireza Balaei, Ali Tamayol, Karen Abrinia, Amir Sanati-Nezhad, Mohamadmahdi Samandari
Summary: This paper introduces an integrated portable centrifugal microfluidic system that automates cell and fluid manipulation for complete blood counting (CBC) analysis at the point-of-care (POC). The system utilizes a specially designed microfluidic disc for cell separation, solution metering and mixing, and cell counting, and is equipped with a custom script for automated quantification of cells. The proposed method shows a strong correlation with the gold standard hematology analyzer for various blood parameters. The portable system offers simplicity, affordability, and low power consumption, making it a potential solution for improving healthcare delivery in resource-limited settings and remote areas.
BIOSENSORS & BIOELECTRONICS
(2024)
Article
Biophysics
Nabil H. Bhuiyan, Joon S. Shim
Summary: Developing herd immunity is crucial for changing the course of the COVID-19 pandemic. An AI-driven point-of-care testing platform has been proposed for analyzing the body's response to SARS-CoV-2, and it has been successfully used for quantifying viral proteins and antibodies in blood samples. A data-receptive web-based dashboard system has also been developed for real-time analysis of herd immunity progress.
BIOSENSORS & BIOELECTRONICS
(2024)
Article
Biophysics
Alexiane Godain, Timothy M. Vogel, Pascal Fongarland, Naoufel Haddour
Summary: This study provides comprehensive insights into the intricate relationship between shear stress and electroactive biofilms in microbial fuel cells, highlighting the pivotal role of shear stress in influencing the growth kinetics, electrical performance, and physical structure of the biofilms. The study also emphasizes the complexities of extracellular electron transfer mechanisms and the need for complementary metaproteomic analyses.
BIOSENSORS & BIOELECTRONICS
(2024)
Article
Biophysics
Linjie Wang, Yixin Chen, Yang Ji, Shujun Zheng, Fei Wang, Caolong Li
Summary: A paper-based biosensor incorporating surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) and colorimetric detection has been developed for efficient quantification of intracellular glutathione (GSH). The biosensor exhibits excellent selectivity, stability, and precision, with low detection limits in both SERS and colorimetric modes. It has been successfully utilized for intracellular GSH detection and validated against a commercial GSH assay kit.
BIOSENSORS & BIOELECTRONICS
(2024)
Article
Biophysics
Quan Zhou, Jing Wang, Zhen Zhang, Alain Wuethrich, Richard J. Lobb, Matt Trau
Summary: This study presents a biosensor for sensitive detection of EMT-associated biomarkers on extracellular vesicles (EVs) surfaces during targeted therapy. Through longitudinal monitoring of patients, the biosensor shows its ability to identify the EMT-like phenotype switching on circulating EVs during the development of resistance.
BIOSENSORS & BIOELECTRONICS
(2024)
Review
Biophysics
Pratika Rai, Sabrina N. Hoba, Celine Buchmann, Robert J. Subirana-Slotos, Christian Kersten, Tanja Schirmeister, Kristina Endres, Bernd Bufe, Alexey Tarasov
Summary: Proteases have been proposed as potential biomarkers for various pathological conditions. The development of protease biosensors offers a more efficient way to investigate dysregulated proteases. This review article presents different optical and electrochemical detection methods for designing biosensors for all major protease families.
BIOSENSORS & BIOELECTRONICS
(2024)
Article
Biophysics
Chengxin Liu, Xu Shen, Li Yan, Runlian Qu, Yue Wang, Yaqin He, Zixuan Zhan, Piaopiao Chen, Feng Lin
Summary: In this study, a homogeneous rapid electrochemical aptasensor was developed to quantitatively detect CTCs in lung cancer patients. The aptasensor utilized a DNA nanosphere structure and a complementary aptamer to specifically detect mucin 1 as a marker for CTCs. The assay exhibited high specificity and sensitivity, and the results were consistent with other detection methods.
BIOSENSORS & BIOELECTRONICS
(2024)
Article
Biophysics
Danni Xue, Xing Dai, Jialong Zhao, Jiayao Zhang, Huan Liu, Kui Liu, Tao Xu, Chenjie Gu, Xingfei Zhou, Tao Jiang
Summary: In this study, a dual-enhancement SERS substrate based on Ti3C2TX and Ag nanocubes was fabricated for precise quantification of ritonavir and ibrutinib in serum. The formation of numerous electromagnetic hotspots between Ag nanocubes facilitated effective photo-induced charge transfer. The composite substrate showed excellent sensitivity, achieving low detection limits and high recoveries, making it promising for monitoring and identification of clinical blood drug concentration.
BIOSENSORS & BIOELECTRONICS
(2024)
Article
Biophysics
Tenghua Zhang, Zihui Xie, Xiaohe Zheng, Yuxin Liang, Yao Lu, Hankang Zhong, Feiyang Qian, Yuqing Zhu, Ruiting Sun, Yan Sheng, Jiaming Hu
Summary: This study reports a technology based on cationic lipid-polymer hybrid nanoparticles for efficient extracellular vesicle (EV) enrichment and in-situ detection of internal microRNAs. The technology demonstrates high EV enrichment efficiency and sensitive internal RNA detection, making it potentially useful for early pancreatic cancer diagnosis.
BIOSENSORS & BIOELECTRONICS
(2024)
Article
Biophysics
Wenjie Dai, Gaoxu Chen, Xiaoyan Wang, Shujun Zhen, Chengzhi Huang, Lei Zhan, Yuanfang Li
Summary: In this study, a novel metal organic gel (MOG) with dual electrochemiluminescence (ECL) properties was prepared by simple mixing. The MOG exhibited strong and stable anodic and cathodic ECL signals. By utilizing this MOG, an ECL resonance energy transfer (ECL-RET) biosensor was constructed for ultrasensitive detection of a specific gene. The study developed a straightforward technique for obtaining a single luminescent material with dual signals and expanded the analytical application of MOGs in the realm of ECL.
BIOSENSORS & BIOELECTRONICS
(2024)
Article
Biophysics
Lais Canniatti Brazaca, Amanda Hikari Imamura, Rodrigo Vieira Blasques, Jessica Rocha Camargo, Bruno Campos Janegitz, Emanuel Carrilho
Summary: The use of microfluidic paper-based analytical devices (muPADs) for medical diagnosis is a growing trend due to their low cost, easy use, simple manufacturing, and potential for application in low-resource settings. This review focuses on the advances in muPADs for medical diagnostics, discussing their use in detecting various biomarkers in common human biofluids. The challenges of biomarker detection in each sample are examined, along with innovative techniques to overcome these limitations. The commercialization difficulties of muPADs are also considered, along with future trends such as wearable devices and integrated platforms.
BIOSENSORS & BIOELECTRONICS
(2024)
Article
Biophysics
Minghong Jian, Xudong Sun, Hua Zhang, Xiaotong Li, Shasha Li, Zhenxin Wang
Summary: Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are attractive biomarkers for cancer diagnosis and treatment, but their low abundance in biological samples, especially in the early stages of tumors, makes it challenging to precisely analyze MMP activities. In this study, a peptide microarray-based metal-enhanced fluorescence assay (PMMEFA) is proposed as a sensitive and specific method to simultaneously detect MMP-1, -2, -3, -7, -9, and -13 activities. The PMMEFA showed excellent sensitivity and was capable of detecting MMP activities in various matrices.
BIOSENSORS & BIOELECTRONICS
(2024)
Article
Biophysics
Kyung Ho Kim, Eunsu Ryu, Zinah Hilal Khaleel, Sung Eun Seo, Lina Kim, Yong Ho Kim, Hyun Gyu Park, Oh Seok Kwon
Summary: We have developed a novel strategy for discriminative detection of SARS-CoV-2 variants using the plasmonic photothermal effect of gold nanofilms and digital polymerase chain reaction (dPCR) technology. With this method, we were able to detect the delta and omicron variants with high sensitivity within 25 minutes from COVID-19 patients' clinical samples, making it a rapid and accurate point-of-care testing tool.
BIOSENSORS & BIOELECTRONICS
(2024)
Article
Biophysics
Zepeng Kang, Yuanming Wang, Haiyan Song, Xueli Wang, Job Zhang, Zhiguang Zhu
Summary: By designing a wearable and flexible lactic-acid/O2 EBFC with an air-breathing biocathode, the limitations of biocathode are effectively solved. The optimal performance conditions are determined through experiments, and the EBFC is successfully applied to power a low-power device.
BIOSENSORS & BIOELECTRONICS
(2024)
Article
Biophysics
Huayun Chen, Zhiheng You, Yuhui Hong, Xiao Wang, Mingming Zhao, Yushi Luan, Yibin Ying, Yixian Wang
Summary: This study developed a colorimetric sensor array using gas-responsive two-dimensional metal-organic framework (MOF) composites for highly sensitive detection of volatile organic compounds (VOCs). The dye/Zn-2(bim)(4) composites-based sensor arrays showed enhanced sensitivity and anti-interference properties. The findings demonstrate the potential use of dye/Zn-2(bim)(4) sensor arrays for early perception of plant diseases.
BIOSENSORS & BIOELECTRONICS
(2024)