Enzyme-free simultaneous detection of circular RNA and linear RNA based on DNA-stabilized silver nanoclusters

Area of Science:

• Biochemistry
• Molecular Biology
• Nanotechnology

Background:

• Circular RNAs (circRNAs) and linear RNAs play roles in cellular functions and disease.
• Simultaneous detection is crucial for understanding RNA mechanisms and finding biomarkers.
• High sequence homology between circRNAs and linear RNAs presents a detection challenge.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a platform for simultaneous detection of circRNAs and homologous linear RNAs.
• To overcome the challenge of sequence homology in RNA detection.
• To facilitate RNA-related mechanism studies and biomarker discovery.

Main Methods:

• Designed a two-type RNA detection platform using DNA-stabilized silver nanoclusters (DNA-AgNCs).
• Utilized fluorescence quenching for total RNA detection and fluorescence enhancement/redshift for circRNA detection.
• Quantified RNA concentrations via fluorescence intensity changes.

Main Results:

• Achieved simultaneous detection of circRNAs and homologous linear RNAs.
• Established limits of detection at 1.10 pM for circRNA and 3.46 pM for total RNAs.
• Successfully applied the platform to detect circABCB10 and its linear counterpart in cells with high selectivity.

Conclusions:

• The DNA-AgNCs platform enables specific and simultaneous detection of circRNAs and linear RNAs.
• This method offers a sensitive approach for quantifying homologous RNA pairs.
• The platform shows significant potential for disease-related RNA biomarker discovery in biomedical research.