Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 9, 2026

An Anaerobic Biosensor Assay for the Detection of Mercury and Cadmium
Published on: December 17, 2018
High affinity DNAzyme-based ligands for transition metal cations - a prototype sensor for Hg2+
Jason M Thomas1, Richard Ting, David M Perrin
1The Department of Chemistry, University of British Columbia, 2036 Main Mall, Vancouver, B.C., Canada V6T-1Z1.
Abstract:
Inspired by recent interest in DNAzymes as transition metal ion sensors, a survey of the effects of various transition metals on the intramolecular cleavage rate of an imidazole modified, M(2+)-independent, self-cleaving "9(25)-11" DNA is reported. In particular, 9(25)-11 activity was strongly inhibited by Hg(2+)(K(d)(APP)= 110 +/- 9 nM). It is postulated that the affinity and selectivity of 9(25)-11 for Hg(2+) stems from the fact that this synthetically modified DNAzyme contains imidazoles. This study demonstrates the utility of modified nucleotides in developing DNAzyme sensors for metals ions, especially those for which unmodified nucleic acids might not serve as inherently good ligands.
More Related Videos
11:04Ion Mobility-Mass Spectrometry Techniques for Determining the Structure and Mechanisms of Metal Ion Recognition and Redox Activity of Metal Binding Oligopeptides
Published on: September 7, 2019
06:31Preparation of SNS Cobalt(II) Pincer Model Complexes of Liver Alcohol Dehydrogenase
Published on: March 19, 2020
Related Concept Videos
Metal-Ligand Bonds
In these complexes, transition metals form coordinate covalent bonds, a kind of Lewis acid-base interaction in which both of the electrons in the bond are contributed by a donor (Lewis base) to an electron acceptor (Lewis acid). The Lewis acid in...
Coordination Number and Geometry
Colors and Magnetism
When atoms or molecules absorb light at the proper frequency, their electrons are excited to higher-energy orbitals. For many main group atoms and molecules, the absorbed photons are in the ultraviolet range of the electromagnetic spectrum, which cannot be detected by the human eye. For coordination compounds, the energy difference between the d orbitals often allows photons in the visible range to be absorbed and emitted, which is seen as colors by the human eye.
EDTA: Chemistry and Properties
Extraction: Advanced Methods
Complexometric Titration: Ligands