Molecular beacons for bioanalytical applications.

Li Tan; Ying Li; Timothy J Drake; Leonid Moroz; Kemin Wang; Jun Li; Alina Munteanu; James Yang Chaoyong; Karen Martinez; Weihong Tan

doi:10.1039/b500308n

PubMed · 15965520

Molecular beacons for bioanalytical applications.

Li Tan·Ying Li·Timothy J Drake·Leonid Moroz·Kemin Wang·Jun Li·Alina Munteanu·James Yang Chaoyong·Karen Martinez·Weihong Tan

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Abstract

Molecular beacons (MBs) are hairpin-shaped oligonucleotides that contain both fluorophore and quencher moieties. They act like switches and are normally in a closed state, when the fluorophore and the quencher are brought together to turn "off" the fluorescence. When prompted to undergo conformational changes that open the hairpin structure, the fluorophore and the quencher are separated, and fluorescence is turned "on." This Education will outline the principles of MBs and discuss recent bioanalytical applications of these probes for in vitro RNA and DNA monitoring, biosensors and biochips, real-time monitoring of genes and gene expression in living systems, as well as the next generation of MBs for studies on proteins, the MB aptamers. These important applications have shown that MBs hold great potential in genomics and proteomics where real-time molecular recognition with high sensitivity and excellent specificity is critical.

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Biosensing Techniques Genomics Molecular Probe Techniques Oligonucleotide Probes Proteomics Journal Article Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.Review

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Li Tan, Ying Li, Timothy J Drake, Leonid Moroz, Kemin Wang, Jun Li, Alina Munteanu, James Yang Chaoyong, Karen Martinez, Weihong Tan. 2005-06-09. Molecular beacons for bioanalytical applications.. https://doi.org/10.1039/b500308n

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