Amplified Tandem Spinach-Based Aptamer Transcription Enables Low Background miRNA Detection

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) play key roles in regulating gene expression and cell functions, which are recognized as potential biomarkers for many human diseases. Sensitive, specific, and reliable detection of miRNA is highly demanded for clinical diagnosis and therapy. Herein, we describe a label-free and low-background fluorescent assay, termed amplified tandem Spinach-based aptamer transcription assay (AmptSpi assay) for highly sensitive miRNA detection by polymeric rolling circle amplicon mediated multiple transcription. Target miRNA is recognized by padlock probe to form polymeric rolling circle amplicon. Then the following transcription process rapidly produces large amounts of repeats of RNA Spinach aptamers, lightened up by the addition of fluorescent dye DFHBI for miRNA quantitative analysis, achieving label-free and nearly zero-background. Besides, the assay could also confer high selectivity to distinguish miRNA among the miRNA family members with 1- or 2-nucleotide (nt) difference. This method was capable of completing detection in human serum sample or cell extracts in hours, indicating great potential in the early diagnosis of diseases.