DNA Ligand - Redox Active Molecule Conjugates as an Electrochemical DNA Probe

Toward the development of universal, sensitive, and convenient method of DNA (or RNA) detection, two kinds of electrochemically active DNA ligands. acridine - viologen and oligonucleotide - ferrocene conjugate, were prepared. Thermodynamic and electrochemical study revealed that these probes bound strongly to DNA, and showed a typical cyclic voltammograms, indicating a potential for use as a reversible electrochemical labelling agent for DNA. Especially, using the electrochemically active oligonucleotide, we have been able to demonstrate the detection of DNA at femtomole levels by HPLC equipped with ordinary electrochemical detector (ECD). These results lead to the conclusion that the redox-active probes are very useful for the microanalysis of nucleic acid due to the stabilily of the complexes, high detection sensitivity, and wide applicability to the target structures (single- and double strands) and sequences.