Exploiting G-Quadruplex-DNA Damage as a Tool to Quantify Singlet Oxygen Production
Lessandro De Paepe1, Annemieke Madder1, Enrico Cadoni1
1Organic and Biomimetic Chemistry Research Group, Ghent University, Krijgslaan 281 S4, Ghent, B-9000, Belgium.
Small Methods
|April 16, 2024
Summary
G-quadruplexes (G4s) DNA can detect singlet oxygen production. This study presents a method using G4 DNA as a sensor to quantify singlet oxygen generation from photosensitizers.
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Molecular Biology
- Photochemistry
Background:
- G-quadruplexes (G4s) are dynamic nucleic acid structures.
- Singlet oxygen can oxidize guanosine bases in G4s, altering their conformation.
- This oxidation-induced conformational change suggests G4s' potential as sensors.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a method for quantifying singlet oxygen generation.
- To utilize G-quadruplex DNA as a biological probe for singlet oxygen sensing.
- To determine the quantum yield of singlet oxygen production for various photosensitizers.
Main Methods:
- Employing a short, readily available G-quadruplex DNA sequence as a probe.
- Exposing the G4 DNA probe to singlet oxygen generated by photosensitizers.
- Measuring the conformational changes in G4 DNA to quantify singlet oxygen production.
- Using both visible and UV-light excited photosensitizers.
Main Results:
- Demonstrated the feasibility of using G4 DNA as a sensor for singlet oxygen.
- Established a method to determine the quantum yield of singlet oxygen generation.
- Validated the probe's effectiveness with different light-excited photosensitizers.
Conclusions:
- G-quadruplex DNA serves as an effective and water-soluble probe for singlet oxygen.
- The presented method allows for the quantification of singlet oxygen quantum yields.
- This approach offers a novel way to study photosensitizer efficiency in biological contexts.
Keywords:
DNA damagecircular dichorism (CD)photochemical sensorquadruplex nucleic acids (G4)singlet oxygen (1O2) quantum yield
