Diagnostic applications

    

Excimer Based Molecular Beacons

 

Molecular beacons (MBs) are fluorescent nucleic acid probes with a stem-loop structure. In our approach, we have developed an excimer-controlled MB with non-nucleosidic chromophores in the stem. Excimer fluorescence is inhibited by formation of a donor-acceptor complex between alkynylpyrene and perylenediimide units results in an excellent reduction of background signal, which allows the sensitive detection of target DNA and RNA even in the presence of significant excess of the probe. In combination with bright excimer fluorescence target detection is rendered possible at low nanomolar concentrations.

 

S.M. Biner , R. Häner
ChemBioChem 2011, 12, 2733–2736

 

S.M. Biner, D. Kummer, V.L. Malinovskii, R. Häner

Org. Biomol. Chem. 2011, 9, 2628-2633

 

R. Häner, S.M. Biner, S.M. Langenegger, T. Meng, V.L. Malinovskii

Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2010, 1227-1230

 

 

  

 

Molecular Probes for the Detection of Homopurine
Sequences

 

The highly selective detection of homopurine target strands is achieved by using triplex forming molecular probes. The binding of clamp-type homopyrimidine oligonucleotides containing two terminally attached pyrene molecules to the target sequence is monitored by excimer formation. High mismatch sensitivity allows an efficient discrimination of single nucleotide mismatches. The combination of excimer signal generation, binding affinity, and mismatch sensitivity renders this type of molecular probe particularly useful for the specific detection of single nucleotide polymorphisms occurring in homopurine regions.

 

 

I. Trkulja, S.M. Biner, S.M. Langenegger and R. Häner

ChemBioChem. 2007, 8, 25-27