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Author Spotlight: Advancements in DNA Nanosensors – Addressing Sensitivity and Selectivity Challenges in Molecular Detection
Published on: February 9, 2024
Molecular recognition of nucleotides in water by scorpiand-type receptors based on nucleobase discrimination
Mario Inclán1, M Teresa Albelda, Esther Carbonell
1Molecular Science Institute (ICMol), Universitat de València, C/Catedrático José Beltrán 2, 46980 Paterna (Spain).
Abstract:
The detection of nucleotides is of crucial importance because they are the basic building blocks of nucleic acids. Scorpiand-based polyamine receptors functionalized with pyridine or anthracene units are able to form stable complexes with nucleotides in water, based on coulombic, π-π stacking, and hydrogen-bonding interactions. This behavior has been rationalized by means of an exploration with NMR spectroscopy and DFT calculations. Binding constants were determined by potentiometry. Fluorescence spectroscopy studies have revealed the potential of these receptors as sensors to effectively and selectively distinguish guanosine-5'-triphosphate (GTP) from adenosine-5'-triphosphate (ATP).
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