Rolling circle amplification-based detection of human topoisomerase I activity on magnetic beads

A high-sensitivity assay has been developed for the detection of human topoisomerase I with single molecule resolution. The method uses magnetic sepharose beads to concentrate rolling circle products, produced by the amplification of DNA molecules circularized by topoisomerase I and detectable with a confocal microscope as single and discrete dots, once reacted with fluorescent probes. Each dot, corresponding to a single cleavage-religation event mediated by the enzyme, can be counted due to its high signal/noise ratio, allowing detection of 0.3pM enzyme and representing a valid method to detect the enzyme activity in highly diluted samples.