Formation of Silver Nanostructures by Rolling Circle Amplification Using Boranephosphonate-Modified Nucleotides

Anal Chem. 2015 Jul 7;87(13):6660-6. doi: 10.1021/acs.analchem.5b00783. Epub 2015 Jun 22.

Abstract

We investigate the efficiency of incorporation of boranephosphonate-modified nucleotides by phi29 DNA polymerase and present a simple method for forming large defined silver nanostructures by rolling circle amplification (RCA) using boranephosphonate internucleotide linkages. RCA is a linear DNA amplification technique that can use specifically circularized DNA probes for detection of target nucleic acids and proteins. The resulting product is a collapsed single-stranded DNA molecule with tandem repeats of the DNA probe. By substituting each of the natural nucleotides with the corresponding 5'-(α-P-borano)deoxynucleosidetriphosphate, only a small reduction in amplification rate is observed. Also, by substituting all four natural nucleotides, it is possible to enzymatically synthesize a micrometer-sized, single-stranded DNA molecule with only boranephosphonate internucleotide linkages. Well-defined silver particles are then readily formed along the rolling circle product.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Boranes / chemistry*
  • Metal Nanoparticles*
  • Microscopy, Electron, Transmission
  • Nucleotides / chemistry*
  • Phosphates / chemistry*
  • Silver / chemistry*

Substances

  • Boranes
  • Nucleotides
  • Phosphates
  • boranophosphate
  • Silver