DNA-triggered dye transfer on a quantum dot.

Nucleic acid-templated reactions are frequently explored tools in nucleic acid diagnosis. To enable a separation-free DNA detection, the reactive probe molecules require conjugation with reporter groups that provide measurable changes of an observable parameter upon reaction. A widely used, generic read-out method is based on fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) between two appended dyes. Yet, spectral cross-talk usually limits the achievable enhancements of the FRET signal in DNA-directed chemistries. We describe a DNA-triggered transfer reaction which provides for strong increases of a fluorescent signal caused by FRET. The method may involve DNA- and PNA-based probes and is based upon a proximity-triggered transfer reaction which leads to the covalent fixation of a fluorescence dye on the surface of a quantum dot (QD). The transfer reaction brings the dye closer to the QD than hybridization alone. The resulting FRET signal is a specific monitor of the reaction and allows efficient discrimination of single base mismatched templates. Of note, the 35-fold increase of the FRET signal is measured at 310 nm apparent Stokes shift and turnover in template provides a means for signal amplification.