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Off-on-off detection of the activity of acetylcholine esterase and its inhibitors using MoOx quantum dots as a photoluminescent probe

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Abstract

The authors describe a fluorometric "off-on-off" method for the determination of the activity of acetylcholine esterase (AChE). Molybdenum oxide quantum dots (QDs) are used as a fluorescent probe having excitation/emission peaks at 405/525 nm. It is found that the photoluminescence of such QDs is quenched by Cu(II) ion but that it can be restored by acetylcholine which is formed by AChE-catalyzed hydrolysis of acetylthiocholine. The effect is due to the strong affinity between Cu(II) and the thiol group of acetylthiocholine. Hence, quenching is increasingly reversed with increasing concentrations of AChE. However, fluorescence is not restored if the activity of AChE is inhibited by an inhibitor. Under optimal conditions, a linear relationship is founded in the 0.05 to 15 mU·mL−1 AChE activity range, with a limit of detection of 35 μU·mL−1 (applying the 3σ/k criterion). Three organophosphate pesticides and propazine were used to validate the assay. All showed strong inhibition, with IC 50 values (the concentration required for 50% inhibition to occur) to be 52, 221, 48 and 9 nM for diazinon, chlorpyriphos, monocrotophos and propazine. Benefitting from its sensitivity, specificity and simplicity, the assay in our perception provides a valuable tool for detection of AChE activity and in screening for its inhibitors.

A novel “off-on-off” assay is constructed for acetylcholine esterase (AChE) activity and inhibitor screening benefitting from the phenomenon that the photoluminescence of molybdenum oxide quantum dots (MoOx QDs) is quenched by Cu2+ and that the quenched photoluminescence can be restored due the strong affinity between Cu2+ and thiocholine (Tch) which is the hydrolysis product formed due to catalysis by AChE.

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Acknowledgments

This work has been supported by the National Natural Science-Foundation of China (No. 21465003, 11475044, 41461070 and 21561002), Natural Science Foundation of Jiangxi Province (No.20161BAB213090) and Jiangxi Provincial Department of education project (No. GJJ150583).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Jiangxi Province Key Laboratory of Polymer Micro/Nano Manufacturing and Devices, East China University of Technology, Nanchang, 330013, China

    Sai Jin Xiao, Zhao Jun Chu, Xiao Jing Zhao, Zhi Bin Zhang & Yun Hai Liu

  2. Jiangxi Key Laboratory of Mass Spectrometry and Instrumentation, East China University of Technology, Nanchang, 330013, China

    Sai Jin Xiao

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Xiao, S.J., Chu, Z.J., Zhao, X.J. et al. Off-on-off detection of the activity of acetylcholine esterase and its inhibitors using MoOx quantum dots as a photoluminescent probe. Microchim Acta 184, 4853–4860 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00604-017-2519-2

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