Analyst Blog

Moreau & Schaeffer, Analyst, 2012, 137, 4111

By Laura Ruvuna, Web Writer

Morgane Moreau and Patrick Schaeffer at James Cook University in Australia have developed a qPCR based binding assay for detecting protein-DNA complexes. Understanding these binding interactions is both biologically vital but difficult to study using traditional methods. Alternatively, this simple procedure requires GFP-Tus, a termination replication protein, a GFP antibody, and multiple strands of DNA in a single reaction. After the immunoprecipitation of the protein-DNA complex, qPCR measures the quantification of each strand separately in polyplex. In addition to being quick and cheap, this assay has the versatility of combining with other common techniques, such as SPR, to increase overall sensitivity. To read more about this group’s new detection method, check out the article below.

A polyplex qPCR-based binding assay for protein–DNA interactions
Morgane J. J. Moreau and Patrick M. Schaeffer
Analyst, 2012, 137, 4111-4113
DOI: 10.1039/C2AN35703H

Check out some of the HOT articles published this last month in Analyst that you may have missed. These papers will be free to access for 2 weeks!

Sensitive detection of H₂O₂ and H₂O₂-related reactant with Ru(bipy)₂(7,8-dimethyl-dipyridophenazine)²⁺ and oligodeoxyribonucleotide
Cen Xiong, Zhiyou Xiao, Manjun Zhang and Liansheng Ling
Analyst, 2012, 137, 4428-4434
DOI: 10.1039/C2AN35519A

Ultrasensitive aptamer biosensor for arsenic(III) detection in aqueous solution based on surfactant-induced aggregation of gold nanoparticles
Yuangen Wu, Le Liu, Shenshan Zhan, Faze Wang and Pei Zhou
Analyst, 2012, 137, 4171-4178
DOI: 10.1039/C2AN35711A

Highly selective fluorescence turn-on sensing of gold ions by a nanoparticle generation/C–I bond cleavage sequence
Jihye Park, Sohee Choi, Tae-Il Kim and Youngmi Kim
Analyst, 2012, 137, 4411-4414
DOI: 10.1039/C2AN35351B

Zhou et al., Analyst, 2012, 137, 4171

Endonuclease V-assisted accurate cleavage of oligonucleotide probes controlled by deoxyinosine and deoxynucleoside phosphorothioate for sequencing-by-ligation
Yanqiang Li, Zhiqiang Pan, Jing Tang, Dan Pu, Pengfeng Xiao and Zuhong Lu
Analyst, 2012, 137, 4421-4424
DOI: 10.1039/C2AN35595G

Development of a pH-activatable fluorescent probe and its application for visualizing cellular pH change
Rong Huang, Shengyong Yan, Xiaolong Zheng, Fengling Luo, Minggang Deng, Boshi Fu, Yijie Xiao, Xi Zhao and Xiang Zhou
Analyst, 2012, 137, 4418-4420
DOI: 10.1039/C2AN35671F

Analysis of layered assays and volume microarrays in stratified media
Homanaz Ghafari and Quentin S. Hanley
Analyst, 2012, Advance Article
DOI: 10.1039/C2AN35767D

Ghafari & Hanley, Analyst, 2012, Advance Article

Assessing the responses of cellular proteins induced by hyaluronic acid-modified surfaces utilizing a mass spectrometry-based profiling system: Over-expression of CD36, CD44, CDK9, and PP2A
Ming-Hui Yang, Shiang-Bin Jong, Chi-Yu Lu, Yu-Fen Lin, Pei-Wen Chiang, Yu-Chang Tyan and Tze-Wen Chung
Analyst, 2012, Advance Article
DOI: 10.1039/C2AN35368G

Gold nanoparticles-based nanoconjugates for enhanced enzyme cascade and glucose sensing
Dongdong Zeng, Weijie Luo, Jiang Li, Huajie Liu, Hongwei Ma, Qing Huang and Chunhai Fan
Analyst, 2012, 137, 4435-4439
DOI: 10.1039/C2AN35900F

Functionalized shell-isolated nanoparticle-enhanced Raman spectroscopy for selective detection of trinitrotoluene
Kai Qian, Honglin Liu, Liangbao Yang and Jinhuai Liu
Analyst, 2012, Advance Article
DOI: 10.1039/C2AN35947B

Screening for D-amino-acid oxidase inhibitors

Qi et al., Analyst, 2012, 137, 4235

A team from China have been working on a capillary electrophoresis (CLE-CE) system for the enantioseparation of dansyl amino acids. Their method was tested on the inhibition efficiency of D-amino acid oxidase (DAAO) inhibitors, which could pave a the way for high-throughput screening of enzyme inhibitors and relevant drug discovery.

A novel chiral ligand exchange capillary electrophoresis system with amino acid ionic liquid as ligand and its application in screening D-amino-acid oxidase inhibitors
Xiaoyu Mu, Li Qi, Ying Shen, Haizhi Zhang, Juan Qiao and Huimin Ma
Analyst, 2012, 137, 4235-4240
DOI: 10.1039/C2AN35753D

A turn-on and reversible fluorescence sensor for zinc ion

Wu et al., Analyst, 2012, Advance Article

A new zinc sensor has been developed by a team working at the National Changhua University of Education and Chung Shan Medical University, Taiwan. Zinc is the second most abundant transition metal in the human body, and although it is considered to be relatively nontoxic, toxicity symptoms can occur with extremely high intake.

A turn-on and reversible fluorescence sensor for zinc ion
Hsiang-Yi Lin, Pi-Yun Cheng, Chin-Feng Wan and An-Tai Wu
Analyst, 2012, Advance Article
DOI: 10.1039/C2AN35752F

Take a look below at some wonderful HOT articles we’ve recently published in Analyst. There are papers covering a large variety of fields, including electrochemiluminescence, metabolomics, diabetes research, Raman spectroscopy, and fluorescent probes. These papers will be free to read for two weeks.

Amplified electrochemiluminescence detection of nucleic acids by hairpin probe-based isothermal amplification
Xiaoming Zhou and Da Xing
Analyst, 2012, Advance Article
DOI: 10.1039/C2AN35367A

The surface-enhanced Raman spectra of aflatoxins: spectral analysis, density functional theory calculation, detection and differentiation
Xiaomeng Wu, Simin Gao, Jia-Sheng Wang, Hongyan Wang, Yao-Wen Huang and Yiping Zhao
Analyst, 2012, Advance Article
DOI: 10.1039/C2AN35378D

Eliminating the dication-induced intersample chemical-shift variations for NMR-based biofluid metabonomic analysis
Limiao Jiang, Jing Huang, Yulan Wang and Huiru Tang
Analyst, 2012, Advance Article
DOI: 10.1039/C2AN35392J

Exploratory urinary metabolic biomarkers and pathways using UPLC-Q-TOF-HDMS coupled with pattern recognition approach
Aihua Zhang, Hui Sun, Ying Han, Ye Yuan, Ping Wang, Gaochen Song, Xiaoxia Yuan, Miao Zhang, Ning Xie and Xijun Wang
Analyst, 2012, Advance Article
DOI: 10.1039/C2AN35780A

Use of imaging multivariate analysis to improve biochemical and anatomical discrimination in desorption electrospray ionisation mass spectrometry imaging
Wei Rao, David J. Scurr, James Burston, Morgan R. Alexander and David A. Barrett
Analyst, 2012, 137, 3946-3953
DOI: 10.1039/C2AN35430F

EOT or Kretschmann configuration? Comparative study of the plasmonic modes in gold nanohole arrays
Maxime Couture, Ludovic S. Live, Anuj Dhawan and Jean-Francois Masson
Analyst, 2012, Advance Article
DOI: 10.1039/C2AN35566C

The promise of electrochemical impedance spectroscopy as novel technology for the management of patients with diabetes mellitus
Teagan Leigh Adamson, Francis Ang Eusebio, Curtiss B. Cook and Jeffrey T. LaBelle
Analyst, 2012, Advance Article
DOI: 10.1039/C2AN35645G

Highly selective preconcentration of ultra-trace cadmium by yeast surface engineering
Ting Yang, Xiao-Xing Zhang, Ming-Li Chen and Jian-Hua Wang
Analyst, 2012, Advance Article
DOI: 10.1039/C2AN35755K

Raman microspectroscopy of live cells under autophagy-inducing conditions
Stanislav O. Konorov, Mario A. Jardon, James M. Piret, Michael W. Blades and Robin F. B. Turner
Analyst, 2012, Advance Article
DOI: 10.1039/C2AN35477B

Line shape distortion effects in infrared spectroscopy
Miloš Miljković, Benjamin Bird and Max Diem
Analyst, 2012, 137, 3954-3964
DOI: 10.1039/C2AN35582E

Cd(II)-triggered excimer–monomer conversion of a pyrene derivative: time dependent red-shift of monomer emission with cell staining application
Animesh Sahana, Arnab Banerjee, Sisir Lohar, Subarna Guha, Sudipta Das, Subhra Kanti Mukhopadhyay and Debasis Das
Analyst, 2012, 137, 3910-3913
DOI: 10.1039/C2AN35731C

Protein-templated gold nanoclusters as fluorescence probes for the detection of methotrexate
Zhanguang Chen, Sihua Qian, Xi Chen, Wenhua Gao and Yuejuan Lin
Analyst, 2012, Advance Article
DOI: 10.1039/C2AN35786K

Cavity-enhanced Raman spectroscopy with optical feedback cw diode lasers for gas phase analysis and spectroscopy
Robert Salter, Johnny Chu and Michael Hippler
Analyst, 2012, Advance Article
DOI: 10.1039/C2AN35722D

Wang et al., Analyst, 2012, 137, 3989

By Laura Ruvuna, Web Writer

In this HOT article, Analyst Advisory Board member Kemin Wang and co-workers from Hunan University, China, use graphene oxide acting as an optical switch in a DNA polymerase assay for the first time. DNA polymerase is important in molecular biological studies and functions as a key drug target. Typically, these assays use expensive and restrictive radioactive labels, which are unsuitable for a high throughput system. Unlike other fluorescence-based assays that require designed template sequences or expensive reagents, here the graphene oxide quenches the fluorescently labeled ssDNA. When the complementary strand binds, the DNA has less of an affinity for the graphene and the resulting fluorescence signal increases. To read more about this new and exciting assay, click the link below. It will be free to read for 2 weeks.

A facile graphene oxide-based DNA polymerase assay
Fengzhou Xu, Hui Shi, Xiaoxiao He, Kemin Wang, Xiaosheng Ye, Lv’an Yan and Shuyong Wei
Analyst, 2012, 137, 3989-3994
DOI: 10.1039/C2AN35585J

Post written by web writer Pui Sai Lau, McMaster University, Canada

Devadhasan & Kim, Analyst, 2012, Advance Article

Today millions of people suffer from type I and type II diabetes, and the associated mortality rate is on the rise. Diagnostic monitoring of glucose is critical to help control blood glucose levels in patients. Currently, various self-monitoring enzymatic strips, and electrochemical sensors are commercially available. However, the high expense, conditional accuracy, and invasiveness are hurdles, which still need to be overcome. Optical detection for glucose monitoring has made significant advancement over the years. Jasmine Pramila Devadhasan and Sanghyo Kim from Gachon University, South Korea have developed a glucose oxidase based sensor using the power of Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor (CMOS) imaging to detect glucose levels by photon count variation. Find out more about this discovery below.

Toward CMOS image sensor based glucose monitoring
Jasmine Pramila Devadhasan and Sanghyo Kim
Analyst, 2012, Advance Article
DOI: 10.1039/C2AN35458F

In this Issue 16 of Analyst we have a dozen HOT articles for you to read. Topics range from bacteria detection, VOCs in human saliva, food quality, fluorescence sensing platforms, and glutathione biosensors.

Jeon et al., Analyst, 2012, 137, 3609

All these papers will be free to access for 2 weeks.

A facile and sensitive detection of pathogenic bacteria using magnetic nanoparticles and optical nanocrystal probes
Jinmyoung Joo, Changyong Yim, Donghoon Kwon, Jaejin Lee, Hwa Hui Shin, Hyung Joon Cha and Sangmin Jeon
Analyst, 2012, 137, 3609
DOI: 10.1039/C2AN35369E

Direct ionization of biological tissue for mass spectrometric analysis
Bin Hu, Ying-Han Lai, Pui-Kin So, Huanwen Chen and Zhong-Ping Yao
Analyst, 2012, 137, 3613
DOI: 10.1039/C2AN16223G

Sampling and characterisation of volatile organic compound profiles in human saliva using a polydimethylsiloxane coupon placed within the oral cavity
Helen J. Martin, Svetlana Riazanskaia and C. L. Paul Thomas
Analyst, 2012, 137, 3627
DOI: 10.1039/C2AN35432B

Monitoring of chicken meat freshness by means of a colorimetric sensor array
Yolanda Salinas, José V. Ros-Lis, José-L. Vivancos, Ramón Martínez-Máñez, M. Dolores Marcos, Susana Aucejo, Nuria Herranz and Inmaculada Lorente
Analyst, 2012, 137, 3635
DOI: 10.1039/C2AN35211G

Lu et al., Analyst, 2012, 137, 3644

A novel molecularly imprinted electrochemiluminescence sensor for isoniazid detection
Bowan Wu, Zhihua Wang, Zhonghua Xue, Xibin Zhou, Jie Du, Xiuhui Liu and Xiaoquan Lu
Analyst, 2012, 137, 3644
DOI: 10.1039/C2AN35499C

Ultrasensitive colorimetric detection of heparin based on self-assembly of gold nanoparticles on graphene oxide
Xiuli Fu, Lingxin Chen and Jinhua Li
Analyst, 2012, 137, 3653
DOI: 10.1039/C2AN35552C

Gold nanoparticle–enzyme conjugates based FRET for highly sensitive determination of hydrogen peroxide, glucose and uric acid using tyramide reaction
Xiangyi Huang, Tao Lan, Bocheng Zhang and Jicun Ren
Analyst, 2012, 137, 3659
DOI: 10.1039/C2AN35503E

A homogeneous fluorescence sensing platform with water-soluble carbon nanoparticles for detection of microRNA and nuclease activity
Liyong Wang, Yongqiang Cheng, Hui Wang and Zhengping Li
Analyst, 2012, 137, 3667
DOI: 10.1039/C2AN35396B

Piot et al., Analyst, 2012, 137, 3673

Confocal Raman microspectroscopy for skin characterization: a comparative study between human skin and pig skin
Sana Tfaili, Cyril Gobinet, Gwendal Josse, Jean-François Angiboust, Michel Manfait and Olivier Piot
Analyst, 2012, 137, 3673
DOI: 10.1039/C2AN16292J

Analysis of the Raman spectra of Ca²⁺-dipicolinic acid alone and in the bacterial spore core in both aqueous and dehydrated environments
Lingbo Kong, Peter Setlow and Yong-qing Li
Analyst, 2012, 137, 3683
DOI: 10.1039/C2AN35468C

Transmission Raman measurement directly through packed corn kernels to improve sample representation and accuracy of compositional analysis
Kayeong Shin, Hoeil Chung and Chul-won Kwak
Analyst, 2012, 137, 3690
DOI: 10.1039/C2AN35443H

Fabrication of glutathione photoelectrochemical biosensor using graphene–CdS nanocomposites
Xiaomei Zhao, Shiwei Zhou, Qingming Shen, Li-Ping Jiang and Jun-Jie Zhu
Analyst, 2012, 137, 3697
DOI: 10.1039/C2AN35658A