An aptameric molecular beacon-based “Signal-on” approach for rapid determination of rHuEPO-α

The aim of this work is to describe the first example of aptameric molecular beacon (MB)-based probe for the detection of recombinant human erythropoietin (rHuEPO-α) in physiological buffer, using a novel 35 nt ssDNA aptamer (807–35 nt) originally isolated by Systematic Evolution of Ligands by Exponential enrichment (SELEX) technique in our laboratory. Both “Signal-on” and “Signal-off” MB modes were developed, respectively, in which the conformational alteration of aptamer before and after binding to rHuEPO-α can be demonstrated in terms of the correspondingly fluorescent changes. Comparing with “Signal-off” mode, “Signal-on” mode provided higher sensitivity, while with the addition of target rHuEPO-α, quenching between fluorescent 807–35 nt aptamer (F-Apt) and a short quencher-labeled complementary sequence (QDNA) was disturbed by the specific binding between rHuEPO-α and F-Apt. QDNA was thus loosened and released from F-Apt, leading to a consequently full fluorescent restoration. Systematic optimization of parameters in “Signal-on” mode were carried out, the choice of QDNA length, the hybridization site of a small supplementary DNA (SDNA) stabilizer, and the existence of Mg2+ cation played essential roles for the performance characterization. A convenient and sensitive determination of rHuEPO-α with a LOD of 0.4 nM was achieved.