Development of label-free molecular beacons based on abasic site-binding fluorescence molecules

Here we report on a class of label-free molecular beacons (MBs) based on a non-covalent interaction with abasic site (AP site)-binding fluorescence molecules. In contrast to conventional MBs that require the chemical labelling with fluorophores and quenchers, our MB simply contains the AP site in the stem moiety, so that a small molecule specifically binds to the AP site. This binding event is accompanied by a significant quenching of its fluorescence, and thus a closed state of the AP site-containing MB (APMB) shows almost no fluorescence. Upon hybridization with a complementary DNA, APMB undergoes a conformational change to take an open state, resulting in an effective fluorescence enhancement due to a release of the molecule from the AP site. These sensing functions of APMB are discussed with a view towards further development of gene detection chemistry based on DNA-binding small molecules.