Molecular beacon could indicate presence of cancer
ChemSci Pick of the Week
A new three-in-one biosensor can detect the abnormal activity of methyltransferase, an early indicator of cancer.
DNA methylation is the process by which a methyl group (a carbon atom with three hydrogen atoms attached) is transferred to a DNA molecule. The process is catalysed by a series of molecules called methyltransferases (MTase). DNA methylation happens naturally in the body, but abnormal patterns have been shown to be an indicator of cancer.
Scientists in China have developed a compact biosensor that can detect and track the behaviour of MTase. The biosensor is composed of two oligonucleotides – short strands of DNA. One of the oligonucleotides is referred to as a 'molecular beacon'.
In the presence of MTase, a methyl group attaches to the molecular beacon, breaking it and causing it to fluoresce. The other oligonucleotide – called the primer – then reacts with the now-shortened molecular beacon in such a way that starts a chain reaction that amplifies the fluorescence signal.
The system performs three functions in one: substrate, template and reporter. The substrate detects MTase, the template rebuilds the substrate after it breaks, and the reporter fluoresces to indicate the presence of MTase. Dr Kong compares this to a smartphone, which performs the functions of camera, phone, calculator and more, whereas previously you would have had to carry all these items with you separately. "We’re trying to simplify the processes contained in the traditional analytical method", he says, "making things more efficient, more convenient, and low cost".
The sensor has an exceptionally low limit of detection, believed to be the lowest ever for a sensor of this kind. This enhanced sensitivity makes it possible to detect MTase abnormalities even when they are present in tiny amounts.
Dr Kong says that the dean of the college where he’s based has a motto: "We have a long time, but the patients do not." "These words always encourage us to work hard and speed up on the way to build clinical platforms", he says.
This article is free to read in our open access, flagship journal Chemical Science: Yun-Xi Cui et al., Chem. Sci., 2019, Advance Article. DOI: 10.1039/C8SC05102J. You can access our 2018 ChemSci Picks in this article collection.
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