Electrochemical Analysis of Nucleic Acids, Proteins and Polysaccharides in Biomedicine

Czech version

Authors: M. Bartošík ¹; E. Paleček ^1,2; B. Vojtěšek ¹
Authors‘ workplace: Regionální centrum aplikované molekulární onkologie, Masarykův onkologický ústav, Brno ¹; Biofyzikální ústav AV ČR, v. v. i., Brno ²
Published in: Klin Onkol 2014; 27(Supplementum): 53-60

Overview

Electrochemical analysis of nucleic acids, proteins and polysaccharides represents an interesting, although not widely spread alternative to current methods based predominantly on optical detection because it offers a relatively inexpensive, fast and instrumentally simple detection of parallel samples on miniaturized chips, ideal for personalized medicine of the 21^st century. Nucleic acid electrochemistry enables, for example, detection of specific DNA sequences (for determination of genes or presence of bacteria and viruses, etc.), DNA damage analysis and interaction with other molecules, DNA methylation or detection of microRNAs as potential cancer biomarkers. In the electrochemistry of proteins, great emphasis is put on construction of immunosensors for capturing specific proteins (antigens) using antibodies, suitable for diagnostics. From a biophysical point of view, intrinsic electrocatalytic signal of proteins sensitive to conformational changes could be useful in discrimination of mutant proteins (e. g. p53), native and aggregated forms (α-synuclein in Parkinson‘s disease) or for studies of protein interactions with low molecular‑ weight ligands and DNA. Due to an increased interest of scientists in glycoproteins, new electrochemical papers emerged aiming at detection of oligosaccharides and polysaccharides (i.e. glycans, when part of the protein). These assays employ for instance electroactive labels specific for saccharides or lectin biosensors using lectins which strongly bind glycans. Electrochemical analysis thus appears as an interesting tool in current genomics, proteomics and glycomics, as well as for cancer diagnostics.

Key words:
electrochemistry – electrodes – nucleic acid hybridization – DNA sensors – electrocatalysis – biological markers

This work was supported by the Czech Science Foundation projects No. P301/11/2055 (to EP) and 14-24931P (to MB), by the European Regional Development Fund and the State Budget of the Czech Republic (RECAMO, CZ.1.05/2.1.00/03.0101) and by MH CZ – DRO (MMCI, 00209805).

The authors declare they have no potential conflicts of interest concerning drugs, products, or services used in the study.

The Editorial Board declares that the manuscript met the ICMJE “uniform requirements” for biomedical papers.

Submitted:
15. 1. 2014

Accepted:
27. 2. 2014

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