A Rational Approach to Minimal High-Resolution Cross-Reactive Arrays

• Published in: Journal of the American Chemical Society Vol. 128; no. 47; pp. 15278 - 15282
• Main Authors: Green, Eric, Olah, Mark J, Abramova, Tatiana, Williams, Lance R, Stefanovic, Darko, Worgall, Tilla, Stojanovic, Milan N
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Washington, DC American Chemical Society 29.11.2006
• Subjects: Alicyclic compounds, terpenoids, prostaglandins, steroids; Biosensing Techniques - methods; Carbohydrates. Nucleosides and nucleotides; Chemistry; Cross Reactions; Exact sciences and technology; Fluorescent Dyes - chemistry; General and physical chemistry; Heterocyclic compounds; Heterocyclic compounds with only one n hetero atom and condensed derivatives; Nucleosides, nucleotides and oligonucleotides; Oligonucleotides - chemistry; Organic chemistry; Preparations and properties; Sensitivity and Specificity; Steroids; Steroids - analysis; Steroids - chemistry; Steroid; Screening; Alkaloid; High resolution; Fluorophore; Nitrogen heterocycle; Measurement sensor; Nucleotide; Cocaine; Oligonucleotide; Tropane derivatives
• ISSN: 0002-7863; 1520-5126
• DOI: 10.1021/ja0642663

We report a rational approach to the construction of cross-reactive arrays for steroids consisting of five to seven sensors incorporating modified oligonucleotides. The sensors for our arrays were selected to maximize their differential responses to the two steroids most different in an arbitrarily chosen parameter named “shape-length”. The arrays incorporated three previously unreported types of sensors identified through a massive screening effort:  (1) three-way junction sensors with neutralized charges within junction; (2) “self-aggregating sensors”; and (3) sensors incorporating fluorophore directly in a three-way junction as a spacer. The arrays were tested on seven steroids and an alkaloid (cocaine) over a range of concentrations, and achieved 92−96% accuracy in class assignments, despite the close structural similarities between steroids.