Label-free detection of canonical DNA bases, uracil and 5-methylcytosine in DNA oligonucleotides using linear sweep voltammetry at a pyrolytic graphite electrode

0485557 - BFÚ 2018 RIV NL eng J - Journal Article
Špaček, Jan - Daňhel, Aleš - Hasoň, Stanislav - Fojta, Miroslav
Label-free detection of canonical DNA bases, uracil and 5-methylcytosine in DNA oligonucleotides using linear sweep voltammetry at a pyrolytic graphite electrode.
Electrochemistry Communications. Roč. 82, SEP2017 (2017), s. 34-38. ISSN 1388-2481. E-ISSN 1873-1902
R&D Projects: GA ČR(CZ) GA16-01625S; GA MŠMT EF15_003/0000477
Institutional support: RVO:68081707
Keywords : electrochemical oxidation * nucleic-acids * guanine * reduction
OECD category: Biochemistry and molecular biology
Impact factor: 4.660, year: 2017

An innovative approach to label-free voltammetric analysis of DNA at a pyrolytic graphite electrode (PGE) within a broad range of potentials (from2.0 to + 1.6 V) in an acetate buffer (pH 5) is presented. Using specifically designed DNA nonamers, we demonstrate not only anodic oxidation, but for the first time also cathodic reduction of nucleobases at the PGE. In addition, products of irreversible oxidation/reduction of the parent bases are shown to yield analytically useful, base-specific cathodic/anodic signals, making it possible to distinguish between the canonical bases (adenine, cytosine, guanine and thymine), uracil (U) and 5-methylcytosine (mC) in DNA. Furthermore, selective electrochemical switching off of the redox signals specific to certain nucleobases is presented as a way to resolve overlapping signals. Similarly, newly reported signals corresponding to electrochemically transformed bases can be switched on under specific conditions. This approach can be utilized for fast and facile simultaneous label-free analysis of bases in DNA, including mC and U, and to uncover overlapping signals. This significantly extends the possible applications of PGE in DNA research and (bio) sensor development.
Permanent Link: http://hdl.handle.net/11104/0280522