Application of a lanthanide fluorescent chelate label for detection of single-nucleotide mutations with peptide nucleic acid probes

Synthesis, crystal structures, photoluminescence properties and DNA binding of triazine-nickel(II) complexes for DNA detection

We report here the synthesis of three new nickel(II) complexes: [Ni(PzTA)2CO3]·5H2O (PzTA=2,4-diamino-6-(2'-pyrazin)-1,3,5-triazine) in 1, [NiQ(PyTA)(H2O)2]Cl·H2O (HQ=8-hydroxyquinoline, PyTA=2,4-diamino-6-(2'-pyridyl)-1,3,5-triazine) in 2, [NiQ(PzTA)(H2O)2]Cl·H2O in 3, and they were characterized by UV spectroscopy, elemental analysis, molar conductivity and X-ray single crystal diffraction. Binding of the complexes to ct-DNA was investigated with electronic spectroscopy, ethidium bromide displacement from DNA, viscometry and cyclic voltammetry. The results depicted the DNA binding mode of the three complexes was intercalation, and complex 1 together with external static-electricity. Moreover, the three complexes also presented potential anti-oxidant activity. Interestingly, we found 1 was sensitive to oxygen and to the polarity of nonaqueous solvents in fluorescence spectroscopy. Fluorescence of 2 and 3 is weak in neutral aqueous solvents, but is greatly enhanced by addition of ct-DNA. Thus, 2 and 3 can be used to DNA detection as DNA fluorescence probes with a LOD of 1.61 ng mL(-1), 4.90 ng mL(-1) for the relative wide linear range of 0.01-20 μg mL(-1), 0.02-30 μg mL(-1), respectively. These findings indicate that 1 may be a potential optical probe for oxygen-free environments in nonaqueous form, while 2 and 3 were DNA-targeted probes.

Synthesis, crystal structures, DNA binding and photoluminescence properties of [Cu(pzta)2Cl]Cl⋅H2O for DNA detection

We report here the synthesis of a new copper(II) complex of 2,4-diamino-6-(2'-pyrazin)-1,3,5-triazine [Cu(pzta)2Cl]Cl·H2O and its characterization using UV and IR spectroscopy, elemental analysis, and X-ray diffraction. Fluorescence spectroscopy revealed that the complex was sensitive to oxygen and to the polarity of nonaqueous solvents. Binding of the complex to DNA was investigated using UV spectroscopy, ethidium bromide displacement from DNA, cyclic voltammetry, and viscometry. The results revealed the DNA binding mode was intercalation together with external static-electricity. However, the complex can be also used to DNA detection as DNA fluorescence probe with a LOD of 4.21 ng mL(-1) for the relative wide linear range between 0.2 and 17 μg mL(-1). In conclusion, that synthetic method of the complex was easy with low expense and was relatively rapid and sensitive compared to most toxic fluorescence dyes. This finding would indicate the complex may be a potential DNA-targeted probes and optical probes for oxygen-free environments in nonaqueous form.

Dynamics of insulin-like factor 3 and its receptor expression in boar testes

Relaxin-like factor (RLF), now mainly known as insulin-like factor 3 (INSL3), is essential for testis descent during fetal development; however, its function in the adult testis is still being elucidated. As a major step toward understanding the as-yet-unknown function of INSL3 in boars, this study aimed to develop a time-resolved fluoroimmunoassay for boar INSL3, characterize the dynamics of INSL3 expression during development, and demonstrate the expression of the INSL3 hormone-receptor system in the testis. All samples were collected from Duroc boars. The sensitivity of the assay system established was 8.2 pg/well (164 pg/ml), and no cross-reactivity with other hormones, such as porcine relaxin, was observed. Circulating INSL3 was shown to increase progressively during development. INSL3 secreted from the Leydig cells was released not only into the blood circulation but also into the interstitial and seminiferous compartments in sufficient concentrations. A testicular fractionation study revealed that its receptor RXFP2 transcripts were expressed mainly in testicular germ cells. In addition, INSL3 bound to the germ cell membranes in a hormone-specific and saturable manner. These results reveal that INSL3 secreted into the interstitial compartment from the Leydig cells is transported into the seminiferous compartments, where its receptor RXFP2 is expressed mainly in the germ cells to which INSL3 binds, suggesting that INSL3 functions as a paracrine factor on seminiferous germ cells.