An enzyme-aided amplification strategy for sensitive detection of DNA utilizing graphene oxide (GO) as a fluorescence quencher

Abstract

A facile, sensitive and rapid method has been developed for detection of disease-related DNA based on lambda exonuclease-aided signal amplification by utilizing graphene oxide (GO) as a fluorescence quencher. The fluorescence of the carboxyfluorescein-labeled DNA probe (F-DNA) was sharply quenched due to the electron or energy transfer between the fluorescence dye and GO. While in the presence of target DNA, the formation of a DNA hybrid released F-DNA from the surface of GO, leading to a fluorescence recovery. Then, the fluorescence enhancement was further amplified by using lambda exonuclease (λ_exo) to liberate target DNA for cyclic hybridization. Fluorescence polarization and gel electrophoresis further verified the reliability of the principle. Disease-related DNA can be sensitively detected based on the enzyme-aided amplification strategy. More importantly, single-base mismatched DNA can be effectively discriminated from complementary target DNA and random DNA. Therefore, it offered a universal, simple, sensitive and specific method for detection of disease-related genes.