Aligner-mediated cleavage-triggered exponential amplification for sensitive detection of nucleic acids

• Published in: Talanta (Oxford) Vol. 185; pp. 141 - 145
• Main Authors: Wu, Wanghua, Fan, Hongliang, Lian, Xiang, Zhou, Jianguang, Zhang, Tao
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier B.V 01.08.2018
• Subjects: Aligner-mediated cleavage; blood serum; detection limit; DNA; DNA cleavage; humans; Isothermal exponential amplification; mutation; Nucleic acids detection; Isothermal exponential amplification; DNA cleavage; Aligner-mediated cleavage; Nucleic acids detection
• ISSN: 0039-9140; 1873-3573; 1873-3573
• DOI: 10.1016/j.talanta.2018.03.067

Exponential amplification reaction (EXPAR), as a simple and high sensitive method, holds great promise in nucleic acids detection. One major challenge in EXPAR is the generation of trigger DNA with a definite 3′-end, which now relies on fingerprinting technology. However, the requirement of different endonucleases for varying target sequences and two head-to-head recognition sites in double stranded DNA, as well as the confinement of trigger DNA's 3′-end to be near/within the recognition site, usually subject EXPAR to compromised universality and/or repeated matching of reaction conditions. Herein, we report a simple and universal method for high sensitive detection of nucleic acids, termed aligner-mediated cleavage-triggered exponential amplification (AMCEA). The aligner-mediated cleavage (AMC) needs only one nicking endonuclease and can make a break at any site of choice in a programmable way. Thus, the 3′-end of target DNA can be easily redefined as required, a key step for initiating the amplification reaction. This capability endows the proposed AMCEA with excellent universality and simplicity. Moreover, it is sensitive and specific, with a detection limit at amol level, a broad dynamic range of 5～6 orders of magnitude and the ability to distinguish single nucleotide mutation. Experiments performed with human serum indicate that AMCEA is compatible with the complex biological sample, and thus has the potentials for practical applications. [Display omitted] •A simple and versatile DNA cleaving method, aligner-mediated cleavage (AMC).•AMC cleaves target DNA in a programmable way using just one nicking endonuclease.•A simple and universal amplification detection of DNA based on AMC (AMCEA).•AMCEA is sensitive and specific, able to detect amol DNA and single base mutation.