Homogeneous Fluorescence Assays for RNA Diagnosis by Pyrene-Conjugated 2′-O-Methyloligoribonucleotides

Abstract

We developed a bispyrene-conjugated 2 ′-O-methyloligoribonucleotide as an RNA-specific RNA-probe. The probe hybridized with the complementary RNA, greatly enhancing fluorescence and discriminating RNA from DNA. The assay was carried out in homogeneous aqueous media without removing the unbound probe from the detection solution. This homogeneous fluorescence assay also discriminated mismatch sequences in the target RNA. These pyrene probes could possess high potential to detect RNA in biological specimens simply.

Keywords:

• Pyrene-conjugated fluorescence probe
• homogeneous fluorescence assay
• RNA diagnosis
• SNP

This research was partly supported by Grants for Regional Science and Technology Promotion from the Ministry of Education, Science, Sports, and Culture of Japan, and by a Grant for Feasibility Study from Innovation Plaza Kyoto. The authors also are indebted to Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., for their financial support.