Single-stranded Peptide Nucleic Acid Research Articles

Structural and functional characterization of self-assembled monolayers of peptide nucleic acids and its interaction with complementary DNA

Self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) of single-stranded peptide nucleic acid (ssPNA) molecules on gold surfaces, with efficient capability for recognizing complementary ssDNA. In spite of their remarkably long length of 6–7 nm, ssPNA molecules can assemble standing-up on the surface similarly to the SAMs of short alkanethiols. The equilibrium between lying and standing-up molecules on the surface is a function of the molecular coverage. These structural and functional studies have been performed by means of powerful label-free techniques for surface characterization such as synchrotron radiation-based X-ray photoemission spectroscopy and atomic force microscopy.

Ordered Self-Assembled Monolayers of Peptide Nucleic Acids with DNA Recognition Capability

We report on the formation of ordered self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) of single-stranded peptide nucleic acids (ssPNA). In spite of their remarkable length (7 nm) thiolated PNAs assemble standing up on gold surfaces similarly to the SAMs of short alkanethiols. SAMs of ssPNA recognize complementary nucleic acids, acting as specific biosensors that discriminate even a point mutation in target ssDNA. These results are obtained by surface characterization techniques that avoid labeling of the target molecule: x-ray photoemission, x-ray absorption and atomic force microscopy.

Characterization of PNA and DNA Immobilization and Subsequent Hybridization with DNA Using Acoustic-Shear-Wave Attenuation Measurements

We report here how the quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation monitoring (QCM-D) technique, simultaneously measuring changes in the induced energy dissipation, D (cf. viscoelastic properties), and the frequency, f (cf. coupled mass), can be used to characterize the bound state of single-stranded peptide nucleic acid (PNA) and deoxyribose nucleic acid (DNA) in relation to their ability to function as selective probe(s) for fully complementary and single-mismatch DNA. The possibility to use the QCM-D technique for detection of binding kinetics and structural differences in the formed duplexes is also presented. We found that thiol-PNA and thiol-DNA attached via a sulfur group directly on a bare-gold surface are less efficient as probes for DNA than are biotin-PNA and biotin-DNA, coupled on top of a two-dimensional (2-D) arrangement of streptavidin, formed on a biotinylated phospholipid bilayer on a SiO2 surface. The fully complementary and singly mismatched DNA oligomers hybridize with the immobilized PNA and DNA. A single mismatch is discriminated via a significant difference in the binding and dissociation kinetics, demonstrating a high selectivity and thus successful immobilization of functional single strands. The observed ratios between hybridization-induced energy dissipation (DeltaD) and the frequency shift (Deltaf) made it possible to discriminate thiol-PNA directly attached to a gold surface from biotin-PNA coupled to the streptavidin 2-D arrangement, where the former were shown to be inefficient for detecting subsequent hybridization. Structural differences of the immobilized layers composed of biotin-PNA-DNA and biotin-DNA-DNA were clearly reflected by the DeltaD and Deltaf response.

Pretargeting using peptide nucleic acid.

Pretargeting studies in animals and humans have usually involved (strept)avidin and biotin. Depending on the particular strategy, endogenous biotin can adversely influence localization when these molecules are used. As an alternative to (strept)avidin and biotin, we have explored the use of a single-stranded peptide nucleic acid (PNA) bound to a protein administered first and followed by the complementary single-stranded PNA radiolabeled with 99mTc. Target localization of the PNA-bound protein in a mouse infection and a mouse tumor model occurred by passive diffusion while the radiolabeled complementary PNA localized by in vivo hybridization. The PNA-streptavidin was prepared by adding biotin-conjugated PNA to streptavidin; the complementary PNA, derivatized with a primary amine, was conjugated with acetyl S-protected NHS-MAG3 bifunctional chelator and radiolabeled with 99mTc. In both the infection and tumor mouse models, increased localization of radiolabel was achieved in animals receiving both injectates compared with control animals receiving only the radiolabeled PNA. In the infection model, the infected to normal thigh radioactivity ratio was 3.5 for the study animals compared with 1.7 for control animals (P = 0.0001). In the tumor model, these values were 1.7 versus 1.2 (P = 0.003). We conclude that PNA may be considered an alternative to (strept)avidin and biotin for pretargeting studies.

Pretargeting using peptide nucleic acid

BACKGROUND Pretargeting studies in animals and humans have usually involved (strept)avidin and biotin. Depending on the particular strategy, endogenous biotin can adversely influence localization when these molecules are used. METHODS As an alternative to (strept)avidin and biotin, we have explored the use of a single-stranded peptide nucleic acid (PNA) bound to a protein administered first and followed by the complementary single-stranded PNA radiolabeled with 99mTc. Target localization of the PNA-bound protein in a mouse infection and a mouse tumor model occurred by passive diffusion while the radiolabeled complementary PNA localized by in vivo hybridization. The PNA-streptavidin was prepared by adding biotin-conjugated PNA to streptavidin; the complementary PNA, derivatized with a primary amine, was conjugated with acetyl S-protected NHS-MAG3 bifunctional chelator and radiolabeled with 99mTc. RESULTS In both the infection and tumor mouse models, increased localization of radiolabel was achieved in animals receiving both injectates compared with control animals receiving only the radiolabeled PNA. In the infection model, the infected to normal thigh radioactivity ratio was 3.5 for the study animals compared with 1.7 for control animals (P = 0.0001). In the tumor model, these values were 1.7 versus 1.2 (P = 0.003). CONCLUSIONS We conclude that PNA may be considered an alternative to (strept)avidin and biotin for pretargeting studies. Cancer 1997; 80:2699-705. © 1997 American Cancer Society.