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Logic gates based on G-quadruplexes: principles and sensor applications

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Abstract

This review (with 139 refs.) gives a fundamental introduction into the sensors and logic gates based on G-quadruplexes (G4s). G4 characterizes vibrant binding activities and topology diversity, which contribute to the multiple signal output modes (including labeled moieties based on distance changes, label-free outputs by employing fluorescent ligands, G4/hemin DNAzyme with catalyzing activity and colorimetric readout using gold nanoparticles) and versatile design strategies (including target-induced G4 formation/disruption, liberation of blocked G4, split G4 probes, polymerase-assisted amplification and G4/hemin enrichment on sensor surface) of G4s-based methods. Following two important trends in logic gates (application of intelligent detection schemes and logic circuit constructions), specific sections review logic sensors and logic circuits based on G4s with several representative examples. We close this review with conclusions and give a perspective that employment of DNA technologies (such as aptamers, DNA junctions/origami, toehold-mediated strand displacement, enzyme-assisted amplification, metal ion-dependent DNAzymes) and various nanomaterials in G4s-based methods results in quite a large potential in terms of logic detection and construction of logic circuits.

The vibrant binding activities, different structural topologies, multiple signal output modes and a variety of designing strategies contribute to the versatile roles of G-quadruplexes in the application and development of DNA logic gates and logic circuits.

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Acknowledgments

This work was financially supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China (Nos. 21275156, 31300096, 31301495, 21305154, 81471696, 41273093, 21203076), the CAS Hundred Talents program and the CAS/SAFEA International Innovation Teams program, and National Key Technology R&D Program in the 12th Five year Plan of China (2012BAD36B02).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. State Key Laboratory of Food Science and Technology, School of Food Science and Technology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, 214122, China

    Yahui Guo, Weirong Yao & Yunfei Xie

  2. Key Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry for Biology and Medicine (Ministry of Education), College of Chemistry and Molecular Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430072, China

    Yahui Guo, Xiaodong Zhou & Jiming Hu

  3. Key Laboratory of Nano-Bio Interface, Division of Nanobiomedicine, Suzhou Institute of Nano-Tech and Nano-Bionics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Suzhou, 215123, China

    Yahui Guo & Renjun Pei

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  1. Yahui Guo
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  2. Weirong Yao
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  3. Yunfei Xie
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  4. Xiaodong Zhou
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  5. Jiming Hu
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Correspondence to Jiming Hu or Renjun Pei.

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Guo, Y., Yao, W., Xie, Y. et al. Logic gates based on G-quadruplexes: principles and sensor applications. Microchim Acta 183, 21–34 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00604-015-1633-2

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