Enzyme-triggered tyramine-enzyme repeats on prussian blue-gold hybrid nanostructures for highly sensitive electrochemical immunoassay of tissue polypeptide antigen.

A novel sandwich-type electrochemical immunoassay with sensitivity enhancement was developed for quantitative detection of tissue polypeptide antigen (TPA) by coupling with target-induced tyramine signal amplification on prussian blue-gold hybrid nanostructures. The immunosensor was prepared through immobilizing anti-TPA capture antibody on a cleaned screen-printed carbon electrode (SPCE). Prussian blue-gold hybrid nanostructures (PBGNS) labeled with horseradish peroxidase (HRP) and detection antibody were utilized as the signal-transduction tags. Upon target TPA introduction, the sandwiched immunocomplex was formed between capture antibody and detection antibody on the electrode. The carried HRP could trigger the formation of tyramine-HRP repeats on the PBGNS in the presence of H2O2. Using the doped prussian blue as the electron mediator, the conjugated HRP could catalyze the reduction of H2O2. Under the optimal conditions, the catalytic currents increased with the increasing target TPA in the dynamic range from 1.0 pg mL(-1) to 100 ng mL(-1) with a detection limit of 0.3 pg mL(-1). The reproducibility and specificity of the electrochemical immunoassay were acceptable. In addition, the contents of target TPA in nine human serum specimens were evaluated by using the developed electrochemical immunosensor, and the obtained results correlated well with those from commercially enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method with a correlation coefficient of 0.9975.

[Mechanism of 5'-to-3' degradation of eukaryotic and prokaryotic mRNA].

RNA degradation plays an important role in modulating gene expression and it affects multiple biological processes. There are three common degradation mechanisms of eukaryotic and prokaryotic mRNA: endonucleolytic, 5'-to-3' and 3'-to-5' exonucleolytic degradation. Differences do exist between the two kingdoms. For example, although the 5'-to-3' exoribonucleolytic degradation is the primary degradation mechanism of eukaryotic mRNA, it plays a minimal role in bacteria, and only in Gram-positive bacteria. Recently, novel RNA degradation mechanisms have been revealed, such as a new eukaryotic mRNA decapping mode mediated by 3'-uridylation and a new 3'-to-5' degradation pathway independent of exosome. These accumulating discoveries not only deepen the insight of mRNA degradation mechanisms, but also may contribute to the development of novel therapeutic drugs targeting parasites, viruses or cancer. In this review, we summarize the current knowledge of 5'-to-3' exonucleolytic degradation pathway of eukaryotic and prokaryotic mRNA, and its future therapeutic perspectives.