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A fluorometric histidine biosensor based on the use of a quencher-labeled Cu(II)-dependent DNAzyme

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Abstract

The authors describe a biosensor for histidine that is based on the use of a DNAzyme catalytic beacon. The Cu(II)-dependent DNA-cleaving DNAzyme (Cu-Enzyme) was modified with a quencher (BHQ1) at its 5′ end, and the corresponding substrate strand (Cu-Sub) was modified with a quencher and the FAM fluorophore at its 5′ and 3′ ends, respectively. The green FAM emission of the system is completely quenched after the Cu-Enzyme is hybridized with Cu-Sub. The presence of Cu(II) triggers the cleavage of the Cu-Sub so that fluorescence recovers. Histidine forms a complex with Cu(II) ion. The complex is not capable of cleaving Cu-Sub effectively so that the fluorescence of the system is not restored. These findings were exploited to design a robust and sensitive assay for the determination of histidine. Fluorescence intensity is linearly related to the concentration of histidine in the range between 0.05 and 40 μM, and the detection limit is 20 nM. The method has been successfully applied to the determination of histidine in (spiked) human urine and gave satisfying results.

Schematic of a fluorescence biosensor for histidine based on a quencher-labeled Cu-Enzyme (Cu-Enzyme refers to Cu(II)-dependent DNA-cleaving DNAzyme; Cu-Sub refers to the corresponding substrate strand of Cu-Enzyme: Cu-Substrate; SA refers to sodium ascorbate).

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Acknowledgements

This project was partly financially supported by National Sciences Foundation of China (21275031), the Natural Sciences Funding of Fujian Province (2014 J06005), the Program for Changjiang Scholars and Innovative Research Team in University (No. IRT15R11), and the Foundation for Scholars of Fuzhou University (XRC-1671, XRC-17007).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. College of Chemistry, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou, Fujian, 350116, China

    Zhuling Chen & Cuiying Lin

  2. School of Law, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou, Fujian, 350116, China

    Qun He

  3. Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Analysis and Detection for Food Safety, Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Analysis and Detection for Food Safety, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou, Fujian, 350116, China

    Mengmeng Zhao, Fang Luo, Zhenyu Lin & Guonan Chen

  4. College of Biological Science and Engineering, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou, Fujian, 350116, China

    Fang Luo

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  1. Zhuling Chen
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  2. Qun He
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Correspondence to Qun He or Fang Luo.

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Chen, Z., He, Q., Zhao, M. et al. A fluorometric histidine biosensor based on the use of a quencher-labeled Cu(II)-dependent DNAzyme. Microchim Acta 184, 4015–4020 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00604-017-2425-7

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