Issue 9, 2018

DNA quadruplexes as molecular scaffolds for controlled assembly of fluorogens with aggregation-induced emission

Abstract

Aggregation-induced emission (AIE) can be generated due to the restriction of intramolecular motions. The controllable assembly of fluorogens with AIE properties (AIEgens) is able to provide a new opportunity for precise manipulation of fluorescent signal transduction. Here, a tetrapod DNA quadruplex (TP-G4) was designed as a molecular scaffold for assembly and precise modulation of light emission of an oligonucleotide-grafted fluorogen with aggregation-induced emission (Oligo-AIEgen). The Oligo-AIEgen was synthesized by attaching the AIEgen to the 3′-terminus of the oligonucleotide through a dibenzylcyclooctyne mediated coupling reaction. The AIEgen emitted no detectable fluorescence in the context of a double-stranded structure. When hybridized to the parallel-stranded TP-G4, several AIEgens were located in close proximity to generate fluorescence. The fluorescence intensity has been precisely regulated by manipulation of the spacer length between the core structure of the scaffold and AIEgen, as well as by altering the quartet number of the G-quadruplex. Similar control of fluorescence was also demonstrated using tetramolecular and bimolecular i-motif quadruplex structures as the scaffolds. These scaffolds provide a proof of concept on the manipulation of molecular interactions, which forms a universal molecular tool for the design of new biosensing strategies.

Graphical abstract: DNA quadruplexes as molecular scaffolds for controlled assembly of fluorogens with aggregation-induced emission

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Edge Article
Submitted
02 Janv. 2018
Accepted
28 Janv. 2018
First published
29 Janv. 2018
This article is Open Access

All publication charges for this article have been paid for by the Royal Society of Chemistry
Creative Commons BY license

Chem. Sci., 2018,9, 2559-2566

DNA quadruplexes as molecular scaffolds for controlled assembly of fluorogens with aggregation-induced emission

L. Zhu, J. Zhou, G. Xu, C. Li, P. Ling, B. Liu, H. Ju and J. Lei, Chem. Sci., 2018, 9, 2559 DOI: 10.1039/C8SC00001H

This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported Licence. You can use material from this article in other publications without requesting further permissions from the RSC, provided that the correct acknowledgement is given.

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