Fluorescent NA Probes
Investigation of fluorescence have been an interest of scientsts since 1800s. Today several diagnostic technologies rely on this natural phenomenon such as realtime-PCR, fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH).
As part of our research development novel fluorescent techniques and smart fluorescent probes for recognition of DNA or RNA sequences with additional features such as sequence specificity, enhanced resolution and increased sensitivity.
Our latest publication reveals a novel fluorescent probe type: Assembly-dependent Fluorescently Enhancing Nucleic Acids (AFENA). These probes are have 3 unique features:
1. ability to fluoresce only in the presence of target DNA. The fluorescence increases up to 20 fold upon binding.
2. recognise DNA with sequence specificty. A single mutation drops its affinity 100 fold.
3. recognise DNA without needing to denature, so it binds double stranded form of DNA.
This work was selected as cover picture for the relevant issue of ChemPlusChem (left).
