Using Nano DNA sensor in cell research

A nanostructured - switch made from DNA (blue and purple) helps detect a specific transcription factor (blue).

Using nano-DNA sensors , a group of researchers at UCSB University, USA, discovered transcription factors directly inside the extracted cells. The researchers believe that their results will allow biologists to participate in monitoring the activity of thousands of different transcription factors, providing a better understanding of the mechanism. Basic activity of the division and development of life forms at the cellular level.

Researchers, working at UC Santa Barbara University in the United States and the University of Tor Vergata Rome, Italy have developed: sensors made from customized DNA molecules that can be used in the treatment of Cancer patients, and quality monitoring of stem cells.

These new Nano sensors can quickly detect a large number of special proteins called transcription factors, which serve as the overall control switches of life.

The results of this study were published in The American Chemical Society.

"The fate of cells in our bodies is controlled by thousands of different proteins, called transcription factors, according to Alexis Vallée-Bélisle Ph.D. interns and leading researchers working at Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry at UC Santa Barbara University, USA "The role of these proteins is to read the genome and translate it into instructions for synthesizing different molecules for configuration and control. cell. The transcription factors configure our cells, just like the configuration settings on our phones or computers. "What our DNA sensors do , is to read that installation settings ".

When scientists took stem cells and turned them into specialized cells , they did so by varying a few transcription factors, explains Vallée Bélisle. This process is called cell reconfiguration . "Our sensor device monitors the activity of transcription factors, and can be used to ensure the stem cells have been correctly reconfigured," added Vallée Bélisle. "These new DNA sensors can also be used to determine what type of transcription factor will be activated or inhibited in a patient's cancer cell, allowing doctors to use a combination of medications. Individual treatment for each patient ".

Andrew Bonham, a graduate student at UC Santa Barbara University and co-author of the study explains that many labs have invented ways to read transcription factors, but the approach Researchers in this study are very quick and convenient. "In most laboratories, researchers had to spend hours extracting proteins from cells before analyzing them," said Bonham: "With the new sensors, we study the cells. plan, by placing sensors and measuring the fluorescence level of the sample ".

This is an international research effort, co-authors include: Kevin Plaxco, professor at UCSB University's Department of Biochemistry and Chemistry, United States and Francesco Ricci, professor at Tor Vergata University Rome , Italy. In the beginning, when Professor Ricci realized that all the information needed to detect transcription factors was encoded in the human genome and could be used to build sensors. (DNA) new nano . After activation, there are thousands of different transcription factors linked to specific DNA sequences, which are the targets of the study, Professor Ricci said. "We use these sequences as a starting point to build our new nano (DNA) sensors."

The breakthrough of this new technology comes from studies of natural biological sensors inside cells."All organisms, from bacteria to humans, can be monitored at the cellular level using molecular biological switches" - including changes at the molecular level. RNA or protein, according to Professor Plaxco. "For example, in our sinuses, there are millions of receptor proteins that help detect different odor molecules by switching from one" state "to another. Switches are small enough to operate inside cells, and are specific enough to work in very complex environments there. "

Inspired by the effectiveness of natural nanosensors, the team of researchers teamed up with Norbert Reich, also a professor at UCSB University's Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, to develop sensors. Synthetic nano has the ability to convert using DNA rather than protein or RNA.

Specifically, the team of researchers has redesigned the natural DNA sequence, with each of the different transcription factors on molecular switches capable of emitting fluorescent light when they are associated with intended goals. Using these nanometer-sized DNA sensors, the researchers were able to determine the activity of direct transcription factors in cell extracts, simply by measuring light levels. Fluorescence emitted from them.

Researchers believe: "This strategy will ultimately allow biologists to track and activate thousands of transcription factors, to provide a better understanding of the basic division mechanism." In addition, since these nanosensors (DNA) work directly in biological samples, we also believe that they can be used to monitor and test the New drugs, such as drugs that inhibit the activity of transcription factors, are responsible for the growth of tumor cells , " said Professor Plaxco.

This research is funded by the US National Institutes of Health, Quebec Research Foundation for Nature and Technology, "Future Research" Project, under the Italian Ministry of Education, University and Research (MIUR). , "The Tri-County Blood Bank Santa Barbara" Foundation .